Internet Use, e-Heath Literacy, and Associated Factors in Istanbul, Turkey: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract There is a lack of robust information for research assessing the association of various socio-demographic factors and digital technology use in the e-Health context in Turkey among the general population. The aim of the study was thus to examine the sociodemographic determinants of e-Health literacy in the general population in Istanbul, Turkey. The study sample consisted of 806 individuals aged 15 and over who participated in a cross-sectional survey conducted between October 2019 and February 2020. Abstracted data included age, gender, education level, income, occupation type, Internet use, self-perceived health status, regular medication usage, and visits to healthcare professionals. The e-Health Literacy Scale was used to measure e-Health literacy. This study indicated that the e-Health literacy of the general population was at a medium level and most variables reflecting the sociodemographic and economic status of the individuals were significantly associated with e-Health scores.