TECHNOLOGY-RELATED ENTHUSIASM AND ANXIETY AND eHEALTH LITERACY AMONG NURSING STUDENTS

Background: As healthcare increasingly integrates digital systems, preparing nursing students to effectively engage with these tools has become vital.Examining the interplay between technology-related attitudes, perceived digital competence, and eHealth literacy is essential for understanding students' preparedness for digitally mediated healthcare, particularly in higher education contexts undergoing digital transformation.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate and postgraduate nursing and health sciences students at the University of Shkodra "Luigj Gurakuqi", Albania.Data were collected using validated instruments assessing technologyrelated enthusiasm and anxiety (TechPH), perceived digital skill, frequency of technology use, and eHealth literacy.Descriptive, inferential, correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed.Results: Students reported moderate-to-high technology enthusiasm alongside moderate technology-related anxiety, as well as adequate levels of eHealth literacy and perceived digital skill, with frequent technology use.No significant differences were observed by gender or academic year.Perceived digital skill and technology enthusiasm were the strongest predictors of eHealth literacy, whereas frequency of technology use showed a weaker association.Conclusions: Digital readiness among nursing students appears to be shaped more by perceived competence and attitudes toward technology than by frequency of use alone.Within the Albanian higher education context, these findings underscore the relevance of educational approaches that support the development of digital skills, confidence, and reflective engagement with technology.