PURPOSE
This study aimed to identify the mediating effects of health belief on the disease-related knowledge, eHealth literacy, and self-care behavior of hypertension patients. eHealth is an emerging field of medical informatics, referring to the organization and delivery of health services and information using the internet and related technologies.
METHODS
A total of 156 patients who were receiving treatment for hypertension at the best internal medicine clinic in Busan City participated in the study. Data collection was conducted from May 22, to June 30, 2019. Collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and three-step mediated regression analysis using SPSS/WIN 25.0.
RESULTS
Significant positive correlations were observed between disease-related knowledge and eHealth literacy (r=.19, p=.016), disease-related knowledge and health belief (r=.32, p<.001), disease-related knowledge and self-care behavior (r=.16, p=.046), eHealth literacy and health belief (r=.17, p=.034), and health belief and self-care behavior (r=.27, p=.001). Health belief had a mediating effect (z=−2.47, p=.013) on the correlation between disease-related knowledge and self-care behavior.
CONCLUSION
To improve self-care behavior among hypertension patients, medical practitioners need to develop interventions that enhance health belief.

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