Association between the e-healthy literacy and cancer prevention consciousness in rural China: cancer cognition acting as a mediator

Abstract

Background: Cancer prevention is a critical public health challenge in China, especially among rural residents. This study aimed to examine the mediating role of cancer cognition in the relationship between e-health literacy and cancer prevention consciousness. Methods: A multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to recruit 486 rural residents from Shandong Province for a questionnaire survey. Data from 453 valid responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, univariate and multiple linear regression. Path analysis was used to examine the mediating role of cancer cognition in the relationship between e-health literacy and cancer prevention consciousness. Results: The mean score of cancer prevention consciousness among rural residents in this study was 7.46 out of a maximum of 10. Regression analysis showed that e-health literacy (β = 0.146, P < 0.001) and cancer cognition (β = 0.150, P < 0.001) influenced cancer prevention consciousness. Gender and the perceived necessity of cancer-related knowledge were also influencing factors (P < 0.001). The direct effect value of e-health literacy on cancer prevention consciousness was 0.155, which accounted for 84.87% of the total effect. The indirect effect value through cancer cognition level is 0.028, accounting for 15.13% of the total effect. Conclusions: We found an above-average level of cancer prevention consciousness among the rural residents. E-health literacy can enhance the consciousness among individuals by increasing their cancer cognition. Policymakers should leverage e-health technologies to strengthen residents’ capacity to understand cancer-related information, with culturally tailored interventions further supporting effective prevention and global health efforts.