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Epilepsy

Relationship between Health-Seeking Behavior and Digital Health Literacy in Epilepsy Patients

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Epilepsy patients seeking medical attention often struggle with health literacy, making it difficult for them to navigate the complexities of their condition. A recent study conducted in Osmaniye, Turkey, has shed new light on the relationship between health-seeking behavior and digital health literacy in epilepsy patients. The study, published in the Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP, explored the digital health literacy of 115 epilepsy patients and its impact on their health-seeking behavior. The researchers found a weak but statistically significant correlation between certain aspects of digital health literacy and overall health-seeking behavior.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that epilepsy patients with higher digital health literacy scores were more likely to engage in healthy behaviors, such as seeking medical attention and following treatment plans.
  • The researchers used the Digital Health Literacy Instrument (DHLI) to assess patients' digital health literacy, which included sub-dimensions such as information seeking, evaluating reliability, and determining relevance.
  • The study also used the Health-Seeking Behavior Scale (HLBS) to evaluate patients' health-seeking behavior, which included aspects such as frequency of seeking medical attention and adherence to treatment plans.
  • The researchers analyzed the correlations between the DHLI and HLBS scores, as well as the impact of demographic variables such as age, sex, and education level on the relationship between digital health literacy and health-seeking behavior.
  • The study suggested that improving digital health literacy could have a positive impact on health-seeking behavior in epilepsy patients.
  • The researchers proposed future studies explore the relationship between digital health literacy and health-seeking behavior in larger samples using alternative methodologies.

Statistics:

  • The study included 115 epilepsy patients diagnosed between July and November 2024.
  • The researchers found a statistically significant correlation between several sub-dimensions of the DHLI and the total HLBS score (p < 0.05).
  • The study found a weak but statistically significant correlation between digital health literacy and health-seeking behavior in epilepsy patients.
  • The researchers analyzed the correlations between the DHLI and HLBS scores, as well as the impact of demographic variables such as age, sex, and education level on the relationship between digital health literacy and health-seeking behavior.

Sources:

  • Tuluce, D., Kaplan Serin, E., & Usta, S. (2025). Relationship between health-seeking behavior and digital health literacy in epilepsy patients. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP, 59.
  • NewsRx. (2025, October 31). Reports from Osmaniye Korkut Ata University Advance Knowledge in Epilepsy (Relationship between health-seeking behavior and digital health literacy in epilepsy patients). Health & Medicine Week, p 5127.

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