eHealth Literacy and Its Associated Factors in Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study

Shimin Guo,1 Chunying Xie,1 Siqi Shi,1 Weiwei Leng,1 Liping Zhou,2 Jingjing Xiao,2 Shu Cai1 1School of Nursing, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Nursing, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Shu Cai, School of Nursing, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, 283 Jianghai Avenue, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510310, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: To assess the level of eHealth literacy and its associated factors among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and to inform the development of targeted interventions.Methods: From December 2024 to March 2025, a total of 239 patients with gestational diabetes mellitus attending the obstetric outpatient clinic of a maternal and child health hospital in Guangzhou were conveniently sampled. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the eHealth Literacy Scale for Pregnant Women, the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale.Results: The mean total eHealth literacy score among patients with gestational diabetes mellitus was 79.05± 8.61. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that age, educational level, frequency of health information searching, anxiety, and perceived social support were influencing factors of eHealth literacy.Conclusion: The level of eHealth literacy among patients with gestational diabetes mellitus was moderate to high and was influenced by multiple factors. Tailored recommendations for accessing appropriate online health information platforms, based on patients’ individual characteristics and needs, may help improve their eHealth literacy.Keywords: eHealth literacy, gestational diabetes mellitus, health information, associated factors, nursing