Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between social support, eHealth literacy, healthcare technology self-efficacy, and technophobia. It also analyzed the mediating effect of eHealth literacy and healthcare technology self-efficacy between social support and technophobia. METHODS: Older patients with coronary heart diseases (n = 396) from four communities in Qingdao were interviewed using the Technophobia Scale, Social Support Rating Scale, eHealth Literacy Scale and Healthcare Technology Self-Efficacy Scale. Data were analyzed using common method deviation test, Pearson's bivariate correlation analysis, and mediation analysis using the PROCESS macro. RESULTS: Social support was significantly positively correlated with eHealth literacy (r = 0.614, p < 0.01) and healthcare technology self-efficacy (r = 0.635, p < 0.01), and significantly negatively correlated with technophobia (r = -0.578, p < 0.01). eHealth literacy was significantly positively correlated with healthcare technology self-efficacy (r = 0.822, p < 0.01), and significantly negatively correlated with technophobia (r = -0.651, p < 0.01). Healthcare technology self-efficacy was significantly negatively correlated with technophobia (r = -0.700, p < 0.01). Social support had a total indirect effect on technophobia of -0.410, with eHealth literacy and healthcare technology self-efficacy mediating 24.9% and 30.2% of this effect respectively, and the chain mediating effect accounting for 44.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide a theoretical reference for nursing to develop appropriate interventions to alleviate technophobia among older patients with CHD.