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Health Literacy among Health and Social Care University Students

Author

Listed:
  • 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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Dolors Juvinyà-Canal & Rosa Suñer-Soler & Adela Boixadós Porquet & Marion Vernay & Hervé Blanchard & Carme Bertran-Noguer, 2020. "Health Literacy among Health and Social Care University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-10, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:7:p:2273-:d:338047
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Axelle Hoge & Mathilde Labeye & Anne-Françoise Donneau & Halehsadat Zahraei Nekoee & Eddy Husson & Michèle Guillaume, 2022. "Health Literacy and Its Associations with Understanding and Perception of Front-of-Package Nutrition Labels among Higher Education Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-19, July.
    2. Thomas Volken & Annina Zysset & Simone Amendola & Agnes von Wyl & Julia Dratva & on behalf of the HES-C Research Group, 2021. "Generalized Anxiety among Swiss Health Professions and Non-Health Professions Students: An Open Cohort Study over 14 Months in the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Israa Baker & Nizar Marzouqa & Bashar Nafe’ Yaghi & Samer Osama Adawi & Shahd Yousef & Tayseer Nedal Sabooh & Nataly Mazen Salhab & Hiba Mahmoud Khrishi & Yahya Qabaja & Abanoub Riad & Elham Kateeb & , 2021. "The Impact of Information Sources on COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) among University Students: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-18, November.
    4. Mitja Vrdelja & Sanja Vrbovšek & Vito Klopčič & Kevin Dadaczynski & Orkan Okan, 2021. "Facing the Growing COVID-19 Infodemic: Digital Health Literacy and Information-Seeking Behaviour of University Students in Slovenia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-16, August.
    5. Rubeena Zakar & Sarosh Iqbal & Muhammad Zakria Zakar & Florian Fischer, 2021. "COVID-19 and Health Information Seeking Behavior: Digital Health Literacy Survey amongst University Students in Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-20, April.
    6. Tetine Sentell & Sandra Vamos & Orkan Okan, 2020. "Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Health Literacy Research Around the World: More Important Than Ever in a Time of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-13, April.
    7. Henrietta Bánfai-Csonka & Bálint Bánfai & Sára Jeges & József Betlehem, 2022. "Understanding Health Literacy among University Health Science Students of Different Nationalities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-13, September.

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