The relationship between mobile health app use, eHealth literacy, and psychological well-being in women with gynecological cancer: a descriptive correlational study.

purposeCancer remains a significant global public health problem. Gynecological cancers account for approximately 20% of cancers diagnosed in women and are associated with considerable physical, psychosocial, and psychological burden. Digital health tools, including mobile health applications, are increasingly used in cancer care to support self-management, communication, and continuity of care. eHealth literacy, the ability to seek, find, evaluate, and apply health information from electronic sources, is a key determinant of effective engagement with these tools. However, the relationship between mobile health app use, eHealth literacy, and psychological well-being in women with gynecological cancer has not been sufficiently explored.

methodsThis descriptive correlational study was conducted with 200 women diagnosed with gynecological cancer at a training and research hospital between November 2025 and January 2026. Data were collected using an Individual Information Form, the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS), and the Psychological Well-Being Scale. Descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, chi-square tests, and Spearman correlation analysis were used for data analysis.

resultsParticipants' mean age was 48.34 ± 10.31 years. Two-thirds (67%) of participants reported using at least one mobile health application, and e-Nabız was the most frequently used platform (39.5%). The mean eHEALS score was 23.10 ± 3.13, and the mean Psychological Well-Being Scale score was 54.23 ± 5.30. A positive, statistically significant, moderate correlation was found between eHealth literacy and psychological well-being (ρ = 0.52; 95% CI [0.40, 0.62], p < 0.001). Significant associations were observed between mobile app use and perceived psychological benefit across all use purposes, although effect sizes varied considerably across purposes.

conclusionsThe findings indicate that eHealth literacy is positively associated with psychological well-being in women with gynecological cancer. Mobile health applications were perceived by participants as psychologically beneficial, suggesting that digital health tools may be associated with psychosocial adjustment in cancer care; however, because of the cross-sectional design, causality and the direction of these associations cannot be determined. Routine assessment of eHealth literacy and structured training on effective use of digital health resources are recommended. Nurses should guide patients toward appropriate mobile health applications, with particular attention to women with lower educational attainment.