Health literacy level of Düzce University students: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: Health literacy is defined as the level of cognitive and social skills and motivation to access, interpret and use information in order to protect and improve the health of individuals. The aim of this study was to determine the health literacy level of the students studying at Düzce University.

Methods: This study was planned as a descriptive-crosssectional study to examine the health literacy levels of university students studying in faculties other than medicine and health sciences at the central campus of Düzce University between November 2018 and February 2019. In the study, the European Health Literacy Scale (HLS-EU) and a questionnaire regarding the students’ socio-demographic characteristics and health service usage habits were used as data collection tools.

Results: The average age of 686 students who participated in our study was determined as 21.01 years. Of the students included in our study, 50.3% (n=345) were male and 49.7% (n=341) were female. 14.9% (102) of the students were first class, 25.2% (n=173) were second class, 34.0% (n=233) third class, 25.9% (n=178) was a fourth grader. According to the results of assessment of students’ health status; 17.8% (n=122) of the students declared as ‘very good ‘, 55.0% (n=377) ‘good’, 25.2% (n=173) ‘moderate’ 1.7% (n=12) ‘bad’, and 0.3% (n=2) as ‘very bad’. According to HLS-EU-Q47 scale; 21.1% (n=145) of the students were inadequate, 41.8% (n = 287) were limited, 30.9% (n=212) of them were sufficient, 6.1% (n=42) of them were perfect. Health literacy levels of the students were not significantly different according to gender, marital status, faculty and class levels.

Conclusion: Health literacy; it is important for improving health, improving the quality of life, increasing the welfare level of individuals and society and providing economic benefits. Inadequate health literacy results in inadequate disease management and lack of access to health services and the use of preventive health care. Awareness should be raised on the importance of preventive health services for university students. University students should be supported in accessing health information, protection from diseases and improving their health.