Identifying the Components of Health Literacy Amongst University Library Users

The purpose is to identify the components of health literacy amongst University library users.

This purpose-based research is a qualitative-quantitative survey study. The qualitative part concentrates on the individuals with background in health literacy and research. In the quantitative part students at the libraries of the University of Tehran were surveyed. The research instrument was a structural questionnaire on health literacy of individuals in the community. Reliability of  more than 0.7 was obtained via Cronbach’s alpha

It is important to mention that understanding health information stood at the desirable level and other components stood at a comparatively appropriate stage among the elements of health literacy of users at the University Library of Tehran. Although there is a significant relationship between health literacy skills with income, there is no significant relationship among gender, age, faculty, and level of education with health literacy skills.

It is necessary to measure health literacy practically and apply the results in the community and other comparable communities. The level of health literacy could increase considerably by using programs to promote the health literacy of the community.