Abstract

Purpose: With the integration of healthcare and technology continuously accelerating, These technological transformations present significant challenges, especially in the care of patients with chronic illness who are older or with multiple comorbidities. The effectiveness of chronic illness management increasingly depends on patients' acceptance and use of innovative eHealth technologies. eHealth literacy is a critical skill that reflects patients' ability to understand and use technology, playing a pivotal role in their acceptance of innovative eHealth technology. This study aims to identify the predictors of eHealth technology acceptance and explore the mediating role of eHealth literacy in enhancing care outcomes for patients with chronic illness.

Methods: This cross-sectional study randomly sampled 169 patients with chronic illness from hospitals in Northern Taiwan. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, and multiple regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of eHealth technology acceptance. Additionally, the SPSS PROCESS macro and bootstrapping techniques examined the mediating effects of eHealth literacy, controlling for variables such as age, occupation, education, and religion.

Results: The study involved participants with an average age of 58.48 years, predominantly male, with education levels up to high school or junior college, mostly of Buddhist faith, and married. The findings revealed that better health status was strongly associated with higher eHealth technology acceptance. Additionally, there were positive correlations between social support and eHealth literacy with eHealth technology acceptance. Notably, eHealth literacy fully mediated the relationship between social support and eHealth technology acceptance, indicating that improvements in eHealth literacy could enhance the impact of social support on technology acceptance among patients with chronic illness.

Conclusion: In the digital healthcare era, eHealth literacy among patients with chronic illness is crucial for enhancing eHealth technology acceptance. Strengthening eHealth literacy through improved social support mechanisms can significantly boost eHealth technology acceptance. As patients' eHealth literacy improves, they are better equipped to utilize eHealth technologies effectively, thereby recognizing their usefulness and ease of use, ultimately enhancing eHealth technology acceptance.

Notes

References:

Chen Y, Cheng C, Osborne RH, Kayser L, Liu C, & L, C. (2022). Validity Testing and Cultural Adaptation of the eHealth Literacy Questionnaire (eHLQ) Among People With Chronic Diseases in Taiwan: Mixed Methods Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research. doi:doi.org/10.2196/32855

Davis, F. D., Bagozzi, R. P., & Warshaw, P. R. (1989). User acceptance of computer technology: A comparison of two theoretical models. Management Science, 35(8), 982-1003.

Glasgow, R. E., Strycker, L. A., Toobert, D. J., & Eakin, E. (2000). A social-ecologic approach to assessing support for disease self-management: the Chronic Illness Resources Survey. J Behav Med, 23(6), 559-583. doi:10.1023/a:1005507603901

Glasgow, R. E., Toobert, D. J., Barrera, M., Jr, & Strycker, L. A. (2004). The Chronic Illness Resources Survey: cross-validation and sensitivity to intervention. Health Education Research, 20(4), 402-409. doi:10.1093/her/cyg140

Hayes, A. F. (2022). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach.

Huang, Y. S. (2019). Exploring the Relationship between eHealth Literacy and eHealth Technology Acceptance in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus. (Master's degree).

Kayser, L., Karnoe, A., Furstrand, D., Batterham, R., Christensen, K. B., Elsworth, G., & Osborne, R. H. (2018). A multidimensional tool based on the eHealth literacy framework: Development and initial validity testing of the eHealth literacy questionnaire (eHLQ). Journal of medical Internet research, 20(2), e36. doi:10.2196/jmir.8371

Description

This study aims to identify the predictors of eHealth technology acceptance and explore the mediating role of eHealth literacy in enhancing care outcomes for patients with chronic illnesses.

Author Details

As shown on poster: Lian-Shin Shiu, PhD Candidate, RN1,2; Yu-Chi Chen, PhD, RN2 -

1International Priority Care Center, Taiwan Adventist Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; 2College of Nursing, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan

Sigma Membership

Lambda Beta at-Large

Type

Poster

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Descriptive/Correlational

Research Approach

Mixed/Multi Method Research

Keywords:

Long-term Care, Chronic Illnesses, Comorbidities, eHealth, eHealth Literacy

Conference Name

36th International Nursing Research Congress

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Seattle, Washington, USA

Conference Year

2025

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

Review Type

Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Click on the above link to access the poster.

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Enhancing eHealth Technology Acceptance Among Patients With Chronic Illness-Role of eHealth Literacy

Seattle, Washington, USA

Purpose: With the integration of healthcare and technology continuously accelerating, These technological transformations present significant challenges, especially in the care of patients with chronic illness who are older or with multiple comorbidities. The effectiveness of chronic illness management increasingly depends on patients' acceptance and use of innovative eHealth technologies. eHealth literacy is a critical skill that reflects patients' ability to understand and use technology, playing a pivotal role in their acceptance of innovative eHealth technology. This study aims to identify the predictors of eHealth technology acceptance and explore the mediating role of eHealth literacy in enhancing care outcomes for patients with chronic illness.

Methods: This cross-sectional study randomly sampled 169 patients with chronic illness from hospitals in Northern Taiwan. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, and multiple regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of eHealth technology acceptance. Additionally, the SPSS PROCESS macro and bootstrapping techniques examined the mediating effects of eHealth literacy, controlling for variables such as age, occupation, education, and religion.

Results: The study involved participants with an average age of 58.48 years, predominantly male, with education levels up to high school or junior college, mostly of Buddhist faith, and married. The findings revealed that better health status was strongly associated with higher eHealth technology acceptance. Additionally, there were positive correlations between social support and eHealth literacy with eHealth technology acceptance. Notably, eHealth literacy fully mediated the relationship between social support and eHealth technology acceptance, indicating that improvements in eHealth literacy could enhance the impact of social support on technology acceptance among patients with chronic illness.

Conclusion: In the digital healthcare era, eHealth literacy among patients with chronic illness is crucial for enhancing eHealth technology acceptance. Strengthening eHealth literacy through improved social support mechanisms can significantly boost eHealth technology acceptance. As patients' eHealth literacy improves, they are better equipped to utilize eHealth technologies effectively, thereby recognizing their usefulness and ease of use, ultimately enhancing eHealth technology acceptance.