eHealth literacy and associated factors among medical students at Phenikaa School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam, during the 2025–2026 academic year: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess eHealth literacy among medical students at Phenikaa School of Medicine and Pharmacy in the academic year 2025-2026, and to examine their associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2025 to June 2026 on 275 medical students from the first to the fourth year using stratified and convenience sampling. Data were collected through an online structured questionnaire incorporating the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS, 8 items). The internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) of the scales was 0.9. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 26. Results: The mean eHealth literacy score was 30.38±6.84 (range 8–40). The multiple linear regression analysis revealed statistically significant associations between eHealth literacy scores with lecturer support, self-study time and use of university psychological counseling services or participation in related events (p<0.05). Conclusions: Medical students at School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Phenikaa University demonstrated limited eHealth literacy. A deeper assessment of the quality of and how students use health information online is needed, and the survey should be expanded to other student groups and units within Phenikaa University to improve generalizability and enable comparisons across different contexts.