Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the subtypes of electronic health literacy among patients with lung cancer surgery and explore the factors affecting profile membership. METHODS: A cross-sectional study utilizing surveys among patients who underwent lung cancer surgery (n = 354). Patients completed the general demographic questionnaire, eHealth literacy scale, strategies used by people to promote health scale, perceived social support scale, and functional assessment of cancer therapy lung cancer scale. Data analyses involved latent profile analysis, variance analysis, Chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 354 valid questionnaires were collected and categorized into three latent classes based on eHealth literacy levels among post-operative patients with lung cancer: "Low eHealth Literacy," "Moderate eHealth Literacy," and "High eHealth Literacy". Each profile exhibited distinct characteristics representative of the different levels of eHealth literacy among these patients. Factors such as age, educational attainment, occupation type, monthly household income, presence of chronic diseases, daily use of smart devices, frequency of health information searches, variety of eHealth information sources, self-management efficacy, and levels of social support were identified as influencing the eHealth literacy of postoperative patients with lung cancer across these categories. CONCLUSIONS: eHealth literacy among postoperative patients with lung cancer exhibits distinct classification characteristics, with over half falling into low or moderate levels. Identifying the sociodemographic factors and influences affecting different patient groups is crucial for developing internet-based continuity of care measures tailored to the specific needs of these patients.