Electronic health literacy and related factors among nursing students: a latent profile analysis

Background In the context of rapid information technology development and widespread internet-based healthcare, electronic health literacy (eHL) is essential for health promotion and disease prevention. As prospective nurses, nursing students require sufficient eHL to retrieve, evaluate, and apply digital health information in clinical practice and health education. However, evidence regarding the heterogeneity and influencing factors of eHL among nursing interns in China remains limited. Methods This multicenter cross-sectional study recruited 1,191 nursing interns from six hospitals in Anhui Province using convenience cluster sampling. Data were collected from October to December 2025. Latent profile analysis, multivariate logistic regression, and Spearman’s rank correlation were applied. Results Three distinct latent classes of eHL were identified: low eHL (28.89%), medium eHL (45.42%), and high eHL (25.69%). The overall mean eHL score among the interns was 77.57 (SD = 14.68). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that, compared with those in the low eHL group, nursing students with higher educational levels, higher health information literacy, and fewer weekly episodes of staying up late were more likely to be classified into the medium and high eHL groups ( p < 0.05). Furthermore, Spearman’s rank correlation analysis revealed that eHL was positively correlated with health information literacy ( p < 0.05). Conclusion Electronic health literacy among nursing students remains at a moderate level. Universities should strengthen systematic health literacy education, guide students to access reputable health websites, and recommend reliable health information resources. Hospitals may establish health consultation centers or virtual platforms to assist nursing students in identifying and evaluating online health information and addressing their practical health needs.