Association Between E-Health Literacy and OGTT Status at Study Enrollment Among Pregnant Women

Aim: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as glucose intolerance diagnosed during pregnancy and can lead to significant health problems for both the mother and the baby. We aimed to compare e-health literacy levels according to oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) status at study enrollment and to examine the association between e-health literacy and OGTT status. Materials and Methods: The study included 45 pregnant women classified as OGTT-tested and 122 classified as OGTT-untested based on their OGTT status at study enrollment. All participants completed a sociodemographic data form and the e-health Literacy Scale (eHEALS). Results: A total of 167 pregnant women were included in the study; 45 (26.9%) had undergone an OGTT during their current pregnancy, while 122 (73.1%) had not. The mean total score on the eHEALS was 24.71 ± 8.58. No significant difference in eHEALS scores was observed between the OGTT-tested and OGTT-untested groups (25.04 ± 8.20 vs. 24.58 ± 8.75; Hodges-Lehmann median difference = 0.00, 95% CI: -3.00 to 4.00; p = 0.788; r = 0.027). In contrast, the proportion of women who had undergone an OGTT in a previous pregnancy was higher among those who underwent an OGTT in their current pregnancy (p < 0.001). eHEALS scores showed significant differences by age group (p = 0.019), education level (p < 0.001), and trimester (p = 0.014); the highest scores were observed in the ≥35 age group and among university graduates. eHEALS scores showed a positive correlation with age (rho = 0.240; p = 0.002) and a negative correlation with gestational week (rho = -0.225; p = 0.004). In the multiple linear regression model, having a college degree (B = 4.079; 95% CI: 0.244-7.915; p = 0.037) and trusting health information on the internet (B = 3.466; 95% CI: 0.421-6.511; p = 0.026) were independently associated with higher e-health literacy scores. Among the 45 pregnant women who underwent OGTT, 14 (31.1%) were diagnosed with GDM according to the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) criteria. In an exploratory subgroup analysis restricted to participants who underwent OGTT, eHEALS scores were higher among women diagnosed with GDM than among those without GDM (p = 0.042). Conclusions: In conclusion, in this sample, the level of e-health literacy did not differ significantly according to OGTT status at study enrollment.