Journal of Health Literacy
Volume:4 Issue: 2, 2019

Healthy literacy is one of the effective indicators in preventive interventions for breast cancer. In view of the relatively high prevalence of breast cancer in women, this study aimed to determine the association between health literacy and preventive behaviors of breast cancer in women. In a cross-sectional study, 300 women referring to comprehensive health centers of Karaj in 2018 were selected through Stratified cluster sampling for participation in the study. The data were collected using a demographic and background questionnaire, Health Literacy Assessment Questionnaire (HELIA) and a standard questionnaire on the adoption of preventive behaviors for breast cancer. Then, the data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20, descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient. The mean and standard deviation of health literacy score was 25.95±15.31 out of 100. 94% (n=282) had low health literacy, 3.3% (n=10) had inadequate health literacy and 2.7% (n=8) had adequate health literacy. Also, the mean and standard deviation of the adoption of preventive behaviors for breast cancer was 12.74±3.97 of 20. The adoption of preventive behaviors for breast cancer was poor in 40% (n=120) of women, 52% (n=156) were moderate and 8% (n=24) were good. Also, the results showed that health literacy and all its five dimensions had a significant and direct correlation with the prevention of breast cancer (P<0.05). In order to promote the adoption of breast cancer preventive behaviors in women, special attention should be paid to health literacy, especially in comprehensive health centers.

Health literacy has impact in preventing harm to the community of students, disease prevention, self-care and life quality. This study aimed to determine the health literacy and its related factors in high school students in Qazvincity.

This research was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The population of this study was 372 students of girl’s high school of Qazvin in 2019 that were selected by multi-stage sampling. The data collection tool was demographic and field questionnaire and the standard questionnaire for Health Literacy Measure for Adolescents (HELMA). Data were analysed using SPSS software version 23 and descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

The mean (standard deviation) of the health literacy score was 70.84(12.58) from 100.  5.4 % (n=20) had low health literacy, 31.2 % (n=116) had inadequate health literacy, 46.5 % (n=173) had adequate health literacy and 16.4 % (n=61) had high health literacy. Health literacy had a significant statistically relationship with basic educational variables (P = 0.003) and interest in health topics (P = 0.002) but it had no relationship with other demographic and background variables (P >0.05).

Considering the limited health literacy in a wide range of students, adding some items to school curricula such as education related to the level of health literacy can be effective in improving the health literacy of students.

Self-care has the main role in controlling heart failure. Moreover, health literacy is a key determinant of health and the first priority in improving the quality of health services. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between attitude toward self-care behaviors and literacy in cardiac patients admitted to educational hospitals in Khorramabad city.  

  The present study was a cross_sectional and analytical study in which the 182 heart patients admitted to the educational hospitals of khoramabad were randomly assigend to several stages. The research tool was standard questionnaires about self _care behaviors and Health Literacy Assessment Questionnaire (HELIA). Data were analyzed using SPSS 16 software and independent t_tests, analysis of variance and pearson correlation coefficient.  

The mean score of self-care in patient was  36.5± 5.32, and according to the division of self-care, 29.7 percent had average and 70.3 had good self-care. The mean score of health literacy was 99.25 ±52.66 . The correlation coefficient between self-care and health literacy score was 0.23 (p<0.001).  

The need to improve the health literacy of cardiovascular patients as a prerequisite for promoting self-care behaviors in these patients should be addressed through mass media and health centers to help control disease and enhance patients' ability to manage their disease.

Mothers' health literacy during pregnancy expresses social and cognitive skills that motivates and empowers them to receive and use useful knowledge. The purpose of this study was to compare the health literacy between the pregnant women referring to health care centers and those referring to private offices.

This cross-sectional study was performed on 100 pregnant women referred to health centers and 100 pregnant women referred to private clinics in Mashhad, 2017.The Persian S-TOFHLA questionnaire was used to asses health literacy. The collected data were analyzed using chi2 and t-test tests and regression logistic analysis.

The pregnant women who referred to health centers and private offices had 44% and 28% of inadequate health literacy, respectively (p<0.05). The variables of age, education, occupation, pregnancy rank, number of live births, gestational age and household income were significantly correlated with functional health literacy of pregnant women (p <0.05). Also, the variables of household income, gestational age, education and maternal age were significantly correlated with overall health literacy (p <0.05).

Inadequate health literacy is a relatively common problem among pregnant women. It is imperative that health system staff, including those working in public and private centers have the skills to consult and evaluate pregnant women in health literacy.

Health literacy represents cognitive and social skills that determine the motivation and ability of individuals to acquire, access and understand the methods of using information to maintain and improve their health. Regarding the effect of medical education students' health literacy on improving health literacy and community health promotion, this study aimed to determine the level of health literacy and its related factors in Torbat Heydarieh medical students in 2019.

This cross-sectional study was conducted with a descriptive-analytic approach in 2019 among 201 students of Torbat-e-Heidarieh University of Medical Sciences who were selected by multi-stage sampling. Data were collected using a two-part questionnaire: demographic information and HELIA (Health Literacy for Iranian Adult). Then the data was analyzed using the spss software version 20, using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis.

In this study, 201 students (87.1%) were girls. The mean age of students was 21.50 ± 1.3 years. In examining the levels of health literacy, 9.5% of the students had low health literacy and 35.8% had inadequate and 42.8% had adequate and 11.9% had high health literacy level. The results of multivariate linear regression show that there is only a statistically significant relationship between the mean score and the term of education with the health literacy scores (p <0.05).

Considering the large number of students with inadequate and borderline health literacy, it is recommended that planners and policymakers increase the health literacy of medical students who promote the culture of health literacy in the community by providing a suitable educational environment and content. Also, using social media and new educational methods is recommended in this regard.

The skills that are required for understanding and applying health information to everyday life have been conceptualized as health literacy. Limited health literate people have more health problems, given that health promoting behaviors can play a protective role for people's health, therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between health literacy and health promoting behaviors.   In this cross-sectional study, 402 individuals over 18 years of age referred to the health centers (in the city of Bushehr, south of Islamic Republic of Iran), completed the (FCCHL) scales for assessing health literacy, (HPLP II) for assessing health promoting behaviors and a demographic questionnaire. The sampling method in this study was two-stage cluster sampling. Multiple regression model was performed in the analysis using R software (version 3.3.2) to predict health literacy outcome.   Functional, communicative and critical health literacy were related to some aspects of health-promoting behaviors but not to all. All the health literacy subscales were significant predictors of health responsibility and none of them predict interpersonal relations.   Health literacy plays an important role in successful health-promoting lifestyle behaviors, but the impact differs by context. These findings can be used in planning and the implementation of educational interventions to improve healthy lifestyles.

Nurses play a critical role in a safe blood transfusion. Therefore, it is crucial. for them to have sufficient knowledge and experience. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Nurses Knowledge about correct methods of blood transfusion of nursing staff in Educational Health Centers in Kerman, Iran This cross-sectional descriptive analytical study included all nurses (N=351) in health training centers in Kerman city in 2018. The data were collected through a self-administrated questionnaire. Data were analyzed by software SPSS version 20, using statistical tests using descriptive statistics, chi-square. Statistically significant value was considered at P ≤0.05. In this study 351 nurses, 286 women (81/5%) and 65 men (18.5%), completed the questionnaire. Total mean scores of knowledge nurses and self- evaluation were 8.76± 2.3 and 37.31 ± 3.7 respectively. A significant relationship between work experience with knowledge was observed. Also, the relationship between age with self- evaluation and workplace with self- evaluation was significant value was considered at P ≤0.05. Our Result showed a moderate level of knowledge nurses and self- evaluation, suggesting more attempts for increasing the knowledge of healthcare workers about blood transfusion. This can be achieved by holding workshops and training classes.