Journal of Health Literacy
Volume:7 Issue: 2, Summer 2022

Health literacy (HL) helps individuals to promote  their a quality life and affecting rational drug use (RDU). This study aimed to quantitatively and qualitatively determine the level of health literacy and rational drug use among indivudals  (age> 18 years) who lived in the central districts of Konya, Turkey.  The study is the mixed research design. The sample consists of 465 people. The Health Literacy Scale and the Rational Drug Use Scale were used to conduct quantitative study. The unstructured interview method was also used to conduct the qualitative design. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences program (SPSS) and statistical tests (reliability, percentage, descriptive statistics, t-test, and ANOVA) were used to analysis data.  The Cronbach Alpha values of the HL scale and RDU scale were 0.93 and 0.82, respectively. The average level of the HL was 98.75±12.77, and the RDU was 36.94±4.47. There was a significant difference between the groups according to the results of the analysis made between the participants' gender, marital status, central districts of residence, educational status, total HL level, and RDU (p<0.05). While there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the level of HL according to the age groups of the participants, there was no difference in RDU (p>0.05).  individuals were over the age of 18 residing in the central districts of Konya province had sufficient levels of HL and RDU.

Maternal health literacy during pregnancy is essential in maintaining health of themselves and their children. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a maternal education intervention based on the self-efficacy theory and health literacy on birth weight. This clinical trial study was performed on 76 pregnant mothers, referred to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences health centers, Mashhad, Iran for routine prenatal checkups in 2016. The participants were assigned to two groups based on multistage cluster sampling method. Study questionnaires included demographic, maternal health literacy, pregnancy outcome and perceived dietary self-efficacy questionnaires Educational intervention including oral presentation, group discussion and multimedia tutorials. The questionnaires were completed at baseline, after intervention and at three months of follow up. The mean age of mothers was 24.92 ± 4.84 years (23.92 ± 4.59 and 25.92 ± 4.94 years in intervention and control groups respectively).  There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of age, maternal health literacy and self-efficacy at baseline. Intervention resulted in significant improvement in health literacy (p<0.001) and nutrition self-efficacy (p<0.001) in the intervention group compared to control group. The mean birth weight of children was significantly higher in the intervention group (3324.14 ± 416.12 g) compared to the control group (3007.73 ± 468.63 g) (p=0.003). The present findings indicate the effectiveness of the designed educational intervention based on self-efficacy theory in improving maternal health literacy and promoting normal birth weight in newborns.

Electronic health (E-Health) literacy, especially among health students, is a significant challenge in promoting health in society. The present study aims to investigate healthcare students’ E-Health literacy level and the factors affecting it. 

In this correlational survey, the study population included all students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran in 2019. Sample size was 228 students. Sampling method was convenience sampling and eHEALS questionnaire was used as research tool. The questionnaires were completed from June to July 2019. The level of e-Health literacy was reported using frequency distribution tables and mean, median, and mean percentage indicators. The relationship between demographic variables and e-Health literacy was analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient test, one-way ANOVA, and Student's t-test. 

Most respondents (67.5%+13.2%) believed that the Internet is essential and very important in accessing health information. Students' e-Health literacy score was 29.22±5 out of 40 (73%). The highest score (3.82±0.71) is related to the item of “I know how to find helpful health resources on the Internet”. E-Health literacy among age groups, disciplines, and different educational levels were significantly different (p <0.001). With increasing age and educational level, e-Health literacy of students also increased (p-value <0.05). The students of Medical Genetics discipline had a higher average health literacy score than other groups.

the level of e-Health literacy skills of students was at a good level, but it is suggested that educators and programmers, and medical librarians pay attention to formal and informal e-Health literacy training to strengthen students' e-Health literacy and eliminate their weaknesses to reach its ideal level.

The prevalence of the Covid-19 epidemic in Iran is associated with many psychological and social effects. This study aimed to examine the association between COVID-19 media literacy and the fear of COVID-19 among students during the coronavirus crisis. This cross-sectional was conducted on 300 students of Hamadan Universities which were selected with a multistage sampling method. To collect the data, the COVID-19 media literacy scale (C-19MLS) and the fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S) were used. Data were obtained using the SPSS software Version 23 and descriptive statistics, T-test, ANOVA, Chi-square, Pearson Correlation test, and regression analysis test were used. As the study results, the mean score of the Fear of COVID-19 was 11.88 ± 4.34; also, the mean score of COVID-19 media literacy was 71.64 ± 11.36, respectively. The Fear of COVID-19 had a negative and significant correlation with the dimensions and total COVID-19 media literacy (P <0.001). Based on the simple linear regression analysis results, COVID-19 media literacy      (β=-0.23) and usage of social media apps (β=0.58) were identified as predictors of the fear of COVID-19.  The findings of this study showed that the COVID-19 media literacy was inadequate in participants. Also, COVID-19 media literacy was related to the Fear of COVID-19. Therefore, designing and implementing educational interventions to empower students in the field of media literacy related to COVID-19 and media consumption regime seems to be necessary to help reduce anxiety and stress and increase the immune system against COVID-19.

Breast cancer is the most common malignant disease in women and the leading cause of death worldwide. Early detection of this cancer greatly increases the chances of successful treatment. This study was conducted to determine the effect of an educational intervention based on the health belief model on adopting breast cancer prevention behaviors in women of reproductive age.

This randomized controlled trial was performed on 84 (42 cases per group) women of reproductive age from 2020 to 2021 in Qazvin, Iran. The intervention group was subjected to educational intervention based on health belief model- provided in four sessions through e-learning and uploading the pre-prepared educational contents in a social media  group. Participantes in both groups completed the questionnaire before, immediately after, and three months after the intervention. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 software 

After the intervention, the mean scores of health belief model constructs (awareness, perceived sensitivity, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, perceived self-efficacy, cues to action, and behavior) were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (p<0.05).  While the mean score of perceived sensitivity and guideline for operation in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group after intervention.

The health belief model could effectively promote breast cancer prevention behaviors in women of childbearing age.

Parent health literacy plays a critical role in the health of the pediatric patients. Awareness about the level of health literacy of parents is essential. This study is aimed to investigate the health literacy among parents of referral children to Besat hospital, Hamadan, Iran.  This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 parents (87 mothers and 13 fathers), who their children were referred to Besat Hospital, in fall 2021. Samples were randomly selected. Demographic and TOFHLA questionnaire were used to collect data.  SPSS 21 was used to analyze data by independent t-test, chi-square test, ANOVA at a significance level of 0.05. The average leve of fathers' and mothers’ health literacy was 32.64± 10.23 and 64.96 ±22.75, respectively. A total of 85 (85%) of the participants were married and lived with spouses. The education level of 51.72% of mothers and 53.84% of fathers were under diploma. Parents' health literacy was significantly changed based on the parent’s education level (p = 0.05), the parent’s job (p= <0.001), and the place of residency (p=0.001). Effect of marital status (p=0.486) and  parents' gender  (p = 0.984) on parents' health literacy were not significant  Half of the parents' health literacy was inadequate, and the level of health literacy was higher in parents that lived in urban and especial work with higher academic education

It has identified health literacy as one of the most important determinants of health status. Considering the importance of mental health literacy (MHL), the aim of this study was to determine the level of mental health literacy and its correlation with general health in female middle school students. This cross-sectional study was conducted during the academic year of 2018. First of all, three education districts were randomly selected in Mashhad. Then three female middle schools were randomly selected from those districts. students in all three schools were included in the study through convenient sampling. A total of 638 female students contributed to the study. Goldberg and Hillier’s version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) were used. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. The mean (SD) MHL and GHQ-28 were 127.69(9.58) and 23.71(12.82), respectively. Students in upper grade with graduate and employee’s fathers had significantly higher MHL (p <0.05). Students whose mothers were employees had a significantly better scores in GHQ-28 (p<0.001). More than 70% of students had no somatic symptoms, anxiety, or depression. Around 53.2% of students had low disorder in the social function subscale.  Based on the results, there was a significant negative correlation between MHL and depression (p<0.05). Based on our results, better mental health literacy led to lower depression in female middle school students.

Health literacy is an important concept in the Covid-19 pandemic and has positive effects on fear. This purpose has been realized to determine the impact of concept of health literacy, which improves awareness in relation to health services on the Covid fear.

This study is a cross-sectional study that was conducted on 1060 people in Turkey who filled out the study instruments in January 2021.  Online tools were used to collect data due to social distance restrictions. The research data were collected using “Personal information form” created as based on literature and observations, “Turkish Health Literacy Scale -32 (HLS-TR), and COVID-19 Fear Scale (FCV-19S). To analyzes of data, average, t test, ANOVA, regression test were used.

Average total score of Turkish Health literacy was 30.36±8.88. According to regression analysis, health literacy has significantly affect Covid fear and higher health literacy was associated with lower FCoV-19S scores (r=-0.760, p<0.001).

Adequate level of health literacy can reduce the negative effects of fear of COVID-19 during the pandemic in Turkey.