Abstract
AIM: To examine the relationships among social support, eHealth literacy and eHealth technology acceptance among patients with chronic illnesses, and investigate whether eHealth literacy plays a mediating role. DESIGN: A cross-sectional correlational study. METHODS: A total of 202 patients with chronic illnesses were recruited from outpatient clinics and communities in Taiwan. Data were collected via structured questionnaires and analysed using SPSS and PROCESS macro with 1000 bootstrap samples. RESULTS: eHealth literacy was the strongest predictor of technology acceptance. Although social support was positively associated with eHealth literacy, it did not directly predict technology acceptance after controlling for eHealth literacy, indicating a full mediation effect. CONCLUSIONS: eHealth literacy is a crucial mechanism through which social support influences health technologies acceptance. Interventions to improve eHealth literacy, particularly those integrated with social support strategies based on different cultural backgrounds, enhance digital engagement among chronic illnesses. IMPLICATIONS FOR PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: Healthcare professionals and policy-makers should design literacy-sensitive interventions that leverage social networks and involve significant others to promote meaningful eHealth engagement in disease management. IMPACT: eHealth literacy fully mediates the relationship between social support and eHealth technology acceptance, proving that social support alone does not directly increase adoption without improving eHealth literacy. eHealth literacy is the strongest predictor of eHealth technology acceptance, emphasising its central role in bridging the gap between social support and eHealth engagement. REPORTING METHOD: This study followed the STROBE checklist guideline. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public involvement.