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THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL HEALTH LITERACY ON DIETARY CHOICES IN CHRONIC DISEASE PATIENTS

Nur Yıldırım Ayşe
Published 24 February 2026
Vol. 14, No. 1 (2026)
pp. 41-49
CC BY 4.0
  1. 1
    Nur Yıldırım Ayşe
    Department of Nursing Fundamentals, Atatürk University Health Sciences Institute, Erzurum, Türkiye.
    TR

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.

JournalColumbia Journal of Health Education and Nursing
ISSN2998-8179
Volume / IssueVol. 14, No. 1 (2026)
Pages41-49
Published24 February 2026
DOI10.5281/zenodo.19679171
Access Open Access
LicenseCC BY 4.0 — reuse with attribution
PublisherKeith Publications
Ayşe , N. (2026). THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL HEALTH LITERACY ON DIETARY CHOICES IN CHRONIC DISEASE PATIENTS. Columbia Journal of Health Education and Nursing, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 41-49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19679171

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