Examining the relationship between attitudes toward technology and health literacy in disease management among older adults with chronic diseases

Aim: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between technology attitudes and e-health literacy in disease management among older adults with chronic diseases. Materials and Methods: The study was designed as a descriptive and correlational research. The study population consisted of older adults aged 65 and over with chronic diseases who applied to Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University Mengücek Gazi Training and Research Hospital. Data collection was completed with 305 older adults who met the inclusion criteria and voluntarily agreed to participate in the study between October 2025 and February 2026. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews using a Descriptive Characteristics Form, the Attitude Toward Technology Scale for Older Adults, and the E-Health Literacy Scale. IBM SPSS version 25.0 software was used for data analysis. Data evaluation involved frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson correlation analysis. The statistical significance level was accepted as p<0.05. Results: It was determined that 51.5% of the participants were female and 64.9% were in the 65–70 age range. It was found that 73.4% of the participants did not search for health-related information on the internet, and 57.4% did not prefer to use technological tools. The mean total score of the Attitude Toward Technology Scale for Older Adults was found to be 2.74±0.61, while the mean total score of the E-Health Literacy Scale was 17.06±9.79. Technology attitude scores were found to be significantly higher among individuals who were male, in the younger age group, had higher education and income levels, possessed internet and computers at home, searched for health-related information on the internet, and preferred to use technological tools (p<0.05, p<0.001). Furthermore, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between older adults' attitudes toward technology and their e-health literacy levels. Conclusion: Conclusively, it was sated that positive attitudes toward technology among older adults with chronic diseases supported their e-health literacy. It is recommended to plan nursing interventions aimed at improving technology usage skills and increasing e-health literacy so that older adults can effectively use digital health applications.