THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL HEALTH LITERACY ON DIETARY CHOICES IN CHRONIC DISEASE PATIENTS
Background: Health literacy and nutrition are crucial for managing diseases and protecting the health of individuals with chronic conditions.
Aim: This study aimed to determine the digital healthy diet literacy and health literacy of individuals with chronic diseases in a city center in eastern Türkiye.
Methods: This descriptive study was conducted with 451 volunteer participants living in a city center in eastern Türkiye between July and December 2022. Data were collected through face-to-face surveys using “Descriptive Characteristics Form,” “Health Literacy Instrument-Short Form,” and “Digital Healthy Diet Literacy Instrument.” Data were analyzed using number, percentage, and mean, t-test for independent groups, Kruskal-Wallis test, and correlation analysis.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 39.28 ± 13.61 years, and 54.3% were female. The mean score for the Health Literacy Instrument-Short Form was 28.36 ± 6.05, and the mean score for the Digital Healthy Diet Literacy Instrument score was 26.11 ± 11.51. A negative, statistically significant, weak relationship was found between the participants’ ages and the mean scores for the Health Literacy Instrument-Short Form and Digital Healthy Diet Literacy Instrument. Additionally, a weak positive and statistically significant relationship was observed between the Health Literacy Instrument-Short Form and Digital Healthy Diet Literacy Instrument (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The health literacy and digital healthy diet literacy levels of individuals with chronic diseases were found to be at a medium level, with a positive relationship between health literacy and digital healthy diet literacy levels.
| Journal | Columbia Journal of Health Education and Nursing |
| ISSN | 2998-8179 |
| Volume / Issue | Vol. 14, No. 1 (2026) |
| Pages | 41-49 |
| Published | 24 February 2026 |
| DOI | 10.5281/zenodo.19679171 |
| Access | Open Access |
| License | CC BY 4.0 — reuse with attribution |
| Publisher | Keith Publications |
Submit Your Research to Columbia Journal of Health Education and Nursing
We invite original research articles, review papers, and case studies. Benefit from rigorous double-blind peer review, rapid decision within 4–8 weeks, DOI for every article, and worldwide open-access distribution.