Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
ERCIYES UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCES, sa.68, ss.29-35, 2024 (Hakemli Dergi)
This study aims to examine the effect of consumer behaviors and health-related internet use on the
level of patient empowerment during the use of health services and the mediating role of consumers’
e-health literacy levels in this relationship. The population consists of individuals with chronic diseases
over the age of 18 living in Turkey. As a sample, 342 people were reached, but 297 questionnaires were
included in the analysis after data control was ensured. The questionnaire consists of a consumer scale,
a patient empowerment scale, an e-health literacy scale, and questions about searching for health
information online. The necessary analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling. It has
been determined that participatory consumer behavior exhibited during the use of health services
has a positive effect on patient empowerment, while avoidance consumer behavior has a negative
impact. In addition, because of the mediation analysis; The study concludes that e-health literacy has
a mediating effect on the effect of health-related internet use on the level of patient empowerment.
While the direct impact of health-related internet use on patient empowerment was negative, this
effect was positive through e-health literacy. As a result, consumers who actively participate in the
health system and have e-health literacy and use the internet to search for health information have
high levels of patient empowerment.