Influences of Online Health Information Seeking Behavior and E-health Literacy on Self-Management in Hemodialysis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the influences of online health information-seeking behavior and e-health literacy on self-management among patients undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: A correlational survey was conducted with 150 adult hemodialysis patients who had been receiving dialysis for at least three months. Data were collected from July to November 2023 using structured questionnaires. The variables measured included online health information-seeking behavior, e-health literacy, and self-management. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regression with IBM SPSS/WIN 28.0. Results: Participants demonstrated moderate to high levels of online health information-seeking behavior, e-health literacy, and self-management. Self-management was positively correlated with online health information-seeking behavior (r=.34, p<.001) and e-health literacy (r=.45, p<.001). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis identified e-health literacy (β=.30, p<.001), regular exercise during the past year (β=.27, p<.001), and alcohol consumption during the past year (β=−.22, p=.002) as significant predictors of self-management, explaining 32% of the variance. Conclusion: E-health literacy, regular exercise, and alcohol consumption significantly affect self-management among hemodialysis patients. Therefore, nursing interventions should focus on enhancing e-health literacy and promoting healthy lifestyle habits to strengthen self-management capabilities in this population.