eHealth Literacy, Self-Management Practices and Glycaemic Control Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Selected Hospitals in Colombo District, Sri Lanka

In the era of advancing technology, eHealth literacy is crucial for effective diabetes self -management. This study assessed eHealth literacy, self-management practices, and glycaemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Colombo District, Sri Lanka. A total of 422 patients with T2DM were randomly selected from three hospitals to participate in this descriptive cross-sectional study. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire, including the validated eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS). Participants were predominantly female (60.4%), aged 50–64 years (44.8%), with 43.8% reporting diabetes for 5–10 years and 62.1% having a family history of T2DM. The mean eHealth literacy score was 24.29±9.38, with most participants demonstrating moderate literacy (46.0%) and 40.3% showing low literacy. Self-management behaviours were suboptimal as only 7.6% avoided sugary foods, 37% inspected their feet daily, and 53.1% rarely or never exercised. Higher eHealth literacy was significantly associated with more frequent FBS monitoring (p<0.001), regular clinic attendance (p=0.042), and exercise (p<0.001). Poor glycaemic control was observed in 43.8% of patients and was significantly associated with longer disease duration (p=0.034) and longer treatment duration (p=0.036). Although mean eHealth literacy was lower among those with poor glycaemic control, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.361). In conclusion, eHealth literacy was moderate and self-management practices were inadequate among patients with T2DM, and nearly half of them experienced poor glycaemic control. Enhancing eHealth literacy and promoting effective self-management practices are critical for improving diabetesrelated outcomes.