Investigating Digital Health Information Literacy Effects on Public Hospitals’ Nursing Personnel Combating the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between health information-seeking behavior (HISB), digital health literacy, and fear of COVID-19 among Greek nursing staff during the pandemic. Utilizing a cross-sectional design grounded in Wilson's Model of Information-Seeking Behavior, a structured questionnaire was administered to 120 licensed professionals at a regional general hospital. The primary objective was to examine how informational needs and literacy levels correlated with psychological responses, specifically the fear of the virus. Results indicated that nursing staff were highly motivated to seek information regarding COVID-19 treatments and patient protocols. Younger and less experienced staff favored official sources, such as journals and formal training. While overall levels of fear of COVID-19 were generally low, significant variations emerged based on demographics; male staff and those aged over 51 reported higher anxiety. Furthermore, fear of COVID-19 was found to be negatively correlated with satisfaction with available information. These findings emphasized the necessity of empowering digital health literacy and tailoring informational resources to mitigate fear and enhance professional preparedness during public health crises.