Health Literacy among Health and Social Care University Students

Dolors Juvinyà-Canal, Rosa Suñer-Soler, Adela Boixadós Porquet, Marion Vernay, Hervé Blanchard and Carme Bertran-Noguer
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Dolors Juvinyà-Canal: Health and Health Care Research Group, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain
Rosa Suñer-Soler: Health and Health Care Research Group, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain
Adela Boixadós Porquet: Training and Research Unit, Social Work School, University of Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
Marion Vernay: Cross-Border and European Projects Coordinator, Regional Institute of Social Work, 66000 Perpignan, France
Hervé Blanchard: Laboratory Center for Economic and Development Law, University of Perpignan, 66000 Via Domitia, France
Carme Bertran-Noguer: Health and Health Care Research Group, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-10

Abstract: Health literacy has been defined by the World Health Organization as the cognitive and social skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health. Its importance in reducing inequalities makes health literacy a thematic area that should be addressed in the training of professionals in the fields of healthcare, Social Work and Education. The objective of this study was to define the health literacy levels of students from the Universities of Girona and Barcelona (Spain) and the Regional Institute of Social Work in Perpignan (France). A cross-sectional study was conducted among students of Nursing, Social Work, Primary Education and Special Education in the 2017–2018 academic year. Sociodemographic and academic variables were considered and the HLS-EU-Q16 questionnaire was used to study health literacy levels. In total, 219 students with an average age of 24.9 participated. Of these, 64.4% were studying Social Work, 23.7% Nursing, 5.9% Primary Education, and 5.9% Special Education. Of the total sample, 36.5% were classified as sufficient in health literacy. The total average score of the health literacy index was 11.1; 13.2 among Nursing students; 10.5 among Social Work students; 10.1 among Primary Education students, and 10.1 among Special Education students ( p < 0.001). Nursing students obtained the best results and healthcare was the highest rated subdomain, more than disease prevention and health promotion.

Keywords: health literacy; HLS-EU-Q16 questionnaire; health promotion; health literacy/classification; students/education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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