# Understanding Health Literacy and eHealth Literacy in Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Cluster Analysis

## TL;DR

This study explores health and eHealth literacy levels among nursing students and identifies distinct subgroups with varying literacy profiles.

## Contribution

The study introduces a cluster analysis approach to reveal diverse literacy profiles among nursing students across educational years.

## Key findings

- Four distinct clusters of literacy profiles were identified among nursing students.
- Significant differences in demographic and educational variables were found across clusters.
- The study highlights the need for tailored educational strategies to address varying literacy levels.

## Abstract

Background: Health literacy and eHealth literacy are core competencies for nursing students, yet their distribution across training pathways remains insufficiently explored. Objective: This study aimed to examine HL and eHL levels among nursing students across different years of the educational programme and identify distinct subgroups of students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate nursing students enrolled in all years of a single Italian university programme. Literacy profiles were assessed using validated questionnaires. A Two-Step Cluster Analysis was applied to identify homogeneous literacy profiles. Group differences were examined using appropriate statistical tests. Results: Four distinct clusters were identified, showing heterogeneous patterns of literacy profiles across the training course. Significant differences emerged in demographic and educational variables across clusters. Conclusions: The findings highlight the coexistence of diverse literacy profiles among nursing students and suggest the need for tailored educational strategies. Due to the cross-sectional design, causal inferences cannot be drawn.