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COVID-19-Related Health Literacy of School Leaders in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author

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  • Sam S. S. Lau

    (Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
    Multidisciplinary Research Centre, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
    College of International Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
    Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China)

  • Eric N. Y. Shum

    (Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China)

  • Jackie O. T. Man

    (Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
    Multidisciplinary Research Centre, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China)

  • Ethan T. H. Cheung

    (Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
    Multidisciplinary Research Centre, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China)

  • Padmore Adusei Amoah

    (School of Graduate Studies, Department of Applied Psychology, Institute of Policy Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China)

  • Angela Y. M. Leung

    (School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China)

  • Kevin Dadaczynski

    (Public Health Centre Fulda, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, 36037 Fulda, Germany
    Center for Applied Health Science, Leuphana University Lueneburg, 21335 Lueneburg, Germany)

  • Orkan Okan

    (Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University Munich, 80333 Munich, Germany)

Abstract

To date, we know little about COVID-19-related health literacy among school leaders, particularly in East Asia. The present study aimed to assess the level of COVID-19-related health literacy and associated factors (vaccine hesitancy, self-endangering behaviour, and work satisfaction) among school leaders in Hong Kong. A cross-sectional study of 259 school leaders was carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic between April 2021 and February 2022. COVID-19-related health literacy using HLS-COVID-Q22, three subscales of self-endangering work behaviour scales (i.e., “extensification of work”, “intensification of work” and “quality reduction”), and two dimensions of Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) (i.e., psychosomatic complaints and exhaustion) were used. The study employed independent sample t -test, ANOVA, and multilinear regression models. The findings show that more than half (53.7%) of school leaders had insufficient health literacy. Participants with insufficient health literacy scored significantly higher in the following factors: exhaustion related to work situation ( p = 0.029), psychosomatic complaints ( p < 0.001), attitude about vaccination (i.e., less agree with vaccination) ( p < 0.001), level of informing on COVID-19 related information (i.e., felt less informed) ( p < 0.001), and level of confusion about COVID-19-related information (i.e., felt more confused) ( p < 0.001). In a linear regression model predicting attitude about coronavirus vaccination, age (β, −0.188, 95% CI, −0.024, −0.005, p = 0.002) and health literacy (β, −0.395, 95% CI, −0.716, −0.361, p < 0.001) were the negative predictors, F (5, 214) = 11.859, p < 0.001. For the linear regression model adjusted for sex and age for predicting health literacy, the model was insignificant. Despite being a highly educated group, this study reveals that one in two Hong Kong school leaders have insufficient health literacy. Inadequate health literacy was strongly associated with a negative attitude about vaccination, low information, and confusion about COVID-19-related information. Additionally, insufficient health literacy was associated with the two secondary symptoms of burnouts. The study highlights an urgent need to develop intervention programmes to promote the COVID-19-specific as well as overall health literacy of the school leaders.

Suggested Citation

  • Sam S. S. Lau & Eric N. Y. Shum & Jackie O. T. Man & Ethan T. H. Cheung & Padmore Adusei Amoah & Angela Y. M. Leung & Kevin Dadaczynski & Orkan Okan, 2022. "COVID-19-Related Health Literacy of School Leaders in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:12790-:d:934698
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cho, Young Ik & Lee, Shoou-Yih D. & Arozullah, Ahsan M. & Crittenden, Kathleen S., 2008. "Effects of health literacy on health status and health service utilization amongst the elderly," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(8), pages 1809-1816, April.
    2. Eun Jung Bae & Ju Young Yoon, 2021. "Health Literacy as a Major Contributor to Health-Promoting Behaviors among Korean Teachers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-16, March.
    3. Sandra Kirchhoff & Kevin Dadaczynski & Jürgen M. Pelikan & Inge Zelinka-Roitner & Christina Dietscher & Uwe H. Bittlingmayer & Orkan Okan, 2022. "Organizational Health Literacy in Schools: Concept Development for Health-Literate Schools," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-12, July.
    4. Kevin Dadaczynski & Katharina Rathmann & Thomas Hering & Orkan Okan, 2020. "The Role of School Leaders’ Health Literacy for the Implementation of Health Promoting Schools," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-16, March.
    5. Janet Yuen Ha Wong & Abraham Ka Chung Wai & Shengzhi Zhao & Faustina Yip & Jung Jae Lee & Carlos King Ho Wong & Man Ping Wang & Tai Hing Lam, 2020. "Association of Individual Health Literacy with Preventive Behaviours and Family Well-Being during COVID-19 Pandemic: Mediating Role of Family Information Sharing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-10, November.
    6. Franke, Franziska & Felfe, Joerg & Pundt, Alexander, 2014. "The impact of health-oriented leadership on follower health: Development and test of a new instrument measuring health-promoting leadership," Zeitschrift fuer Personalforschung. German Journal of Research in Human Resource Management, Rainer Hampp Verlag, vol. 28(1-2), pages 139-161.
    7. Orkan Okan & Torsten Michael Bollweg & Eva-Maria Berens & Klaus Hurrelmann & Ullrich Bauer & Doris Schaeffer, 2020. "Coronavirus-Related Health Literacy: A Cross-Sectional Study in Adults during the COVID-19 Infodemic in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-20, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Karina Leksy & Mirosław Wójciak & Grzegorz Gawron & Rafał Muster & Kevin Dadaczynski & Orkan Okan, 2023. "Work-Related Stress of Polish School Principals during the COVID-19 Pandemic as a Risk Factor for Burnout," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-17, January.
    2. Sam S. S. Lau & Eric N. Y. Shum & Jackie O. T. Man & Ethan T. H. Cheung & Padmore Adusei Amoah & Angela Y. M. Leung & Orkan Okan & Kevin Dadaczynski, 2022. "A Cross-Sectional Study of the Perceived Stress, Well-Being and Their Relations with Work-Related Behaviours among Hong Kong School Leaders during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-18, November.

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