A cross‐sectional study of nursing students' eHealth literacy and COVID‐19 preventive behaviours

Abstract

Abstract Aim This study explored nursing students' eHealth literacy, lifestyle behaviours and COVID‐19‐related preventive behaviours and associated factors. Design A cross‐sectional comparative correlational study. Methods Nursing students (n = 358) from a metropolitan area of South Korea were recruited for an online survey. The online questionnaire included: The eHealth Literacy Scale, the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile‐II and the COVID‐19‐related preventive behaviour scale. Results COVID‐19‐related preventive behaviours correlated positively with satisfaction with one's major, time spent seeking health information online, eHealth literacy and lifestyle behaviours. Significant factors affecting COVID‐19‐related preventive behaviours were the following: being female (β = 0.194, p < .001), time spent seeking health information online (β = 0.114, p = .002), eHealth literacy (β = 0.167, p = .001) and lifestyle behaviours (β = 0.266, p < .001). Conclusions Findings highlight the need to strengthen searching behaviours to access accurate health information online and reinforce eHealth literacy and health‐promoting lifestyle behaviours to improve COVID‐19 preventive behaviours among nursing students.

Keywords

• COVID‐19
• eHealth literacy
• health behaviour
• nursing students