The Most Important Component of Service Use in Health Care: Health Literacy

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Health literacy is the degree of capacity of individuals to understand and process health information, services that are necessary to make appropriate, accurate health decisions. This study was conducted to determine the health literacy levels and health responsibilities of the students studying in the nursing department of the Faculty of Health Sciences. METHODS: The sample of the study consisted of 406 university students who accepted to study. Questionnaire form, rapid assessment of adult literacy in health form and health-promoting lifestyle behaviors scale were used as data collection tools. Mean and percentages were used for evaluation. RESULTS: 75% of the students stated that they mostly understood medical terms written in the documents in health institutions. The mean score of the health literacy assessment form was 63.6 +- 0.9. According to the results of the health literacy test, 92.9% of the students had a sufficient level of health literacy by taking 61-66 points. The mean scores of students' health responsibility were 23.8 +- 5.38, and the item with the lowest level of participation was 'I attend training sessions on subjects that concern my health', and the item with the highest participation was 'I tell the doctor or a healthcare professional about the unusual signs and symptoms in my body'. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In line with the results of the study, it was determined that the basic level health literacy of nursing students was good. It is recommended that the study be applied to students outside the nursing department, awareness raising in terms of health responsibility and the integration of the concept of health literacy into health education.

Keywords

• education
• health literacy
• health responsibility
• nursing
• student