Understanding Health Literacy among University Health Science Students of Different Nationalities

Henrietta Bánfai-Csonka; Bálint Bánfai; Sára Jeges; József Betlehem

doi:10.3390/ijerph191811758

Understanding Health Literacy among University Health Science Students of Different Nationalities

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 17;19(18):11758. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191811758.

Authors

Henrietta Bánfai-Csonka^{1

2

3}, Bálint Bánfai², Sára Jeges², József Betlehem²

Affiliations

¹ Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, 7621 Pécs, Hungary.
² Institute of Emergency Care and Pedagogy of Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, 7621 Pécs, Hungary.
³ Emergency Department, Clinical Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary.

Abstract

An adequate level of health literacy is essential for clear communication between patients and health care workers. The internationalization of universities is increasing in the field of health care. The aims of our research were to measure (1) the level of health literacy and its correlation among university students and (2) the relationship between the different instruments measuring health literacy. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the 2020/2021 academic year. The questionnaire included questions on sociodemographic status, study data, health status, and health literacy level. According to the HLS-EU-Q16 health literacy questionnaire, more than half of the students had a limited HL level in disease prevention (52.4%) and health promotion (58.4%) subindexes. Nationality was found to be an influencing factor (p < 0.001). According to the NVS, 80.1% of the students had an adequate HL level. A significant correlation was found between the results and nationality (p = 0.005). None of the Chew questions demonstrated a correlation with nationality (q1 p = 0.269, q2 p = 0.368, q3 p = 0.528). Nationality is a key factor in the level of subjective and functional health literacy. We need to measure both types of levels to see the real results.

Keywords: HLS-EU-Q16; NVS; functional health literacy level; health sciences university students; subjective health literacy level.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cross-Sectional Studies
Ethnicity
Health Literacy*
Humans
Students
Surveys and Questionnaires
Universities

Grants and funding

This research was funded by ÚNKP-20-3-II, New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology. The APC was funded by the Thematic Excellence Program 2021 Health Subprogram of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology in Hungary, within the framework of the EGA-10 project of the University of Pécs. The authors declare that the funding sources did not have any role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; or in writing and submitting this manuscript.