Investigation of the Relationship Between Health Literacy Levels and Rational Drug Use Among Veterinary Faculty Students

Tolgay Ercan

doi:10.30607/kvj.1853849

EN TR

Investigation of the Relationship Between Health Literacy Levels and Rational Drug Use Among Veterinary Faculty Students

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between health literacy and rational drug use among veterinary faculty students. The cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted with 234 students enrolled in a veterinary faculty in Turkey. Data collection tools included a sociodemographic information form, the Health Literacy Scale, and the Rational Drug Use Scale. Health literacy was assessed under two themes, “Treatment and Services” and “Disease Prevention / Health Promotion,” and their respective subdimensions. Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were applied. Results showed that students’ health literacy subdimension scores were moderate, and the total score for rational drug use was 34.35 ± 5.88. All subdimensions of the “Treatment and Services” theme demonstrated low but statistically significant negative correlations with rational drug use (p < 0.05). In the “Disease Prevention / Health Promotion” theme, only the “understanding information” subdimension was significantly related to rational drug use. Furthermore, rational drug use was positively associated with class level, while no significant association was found with gender. Overall, a significant relationship was identified between health literacy and rational drug use among veterinary students. Highlighting this relationship, particularly among students who have not received rational drug use training, underscores the importance of integrating health literacy and rational drug use education into the veterinary curriculum.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Republic of Turkey Sivas Cumhuriyet University Rectorate Social Sciences Scientific Research Proposal Ethics Evaluation Board Number: E-99711239-050.04-639983 ………… Subject: Ethics Committee Decision Dear Dr. Lecturer TOLGAY ERCAN The Social Sciences Scientific Research Proposal Ethics Evaluation Board of our University, with its decision number 18 dated 21.11.2025, unanimously decided that the research titled "Examination of the Relationship Between Health Literacy Levels of Veterinary Faculty Students and Rational Drug Use" is ethically appropriate. I kindly request your information. Dr. Lecturer Kürşad ÖZKAYNAR Chairman of the Board

Veteriner Fakültesi Öğrencilerinin Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Düzeyleri ve Akılcı İlaç Kullanımı Arasındaki İlişkinin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, veteriner fakültesi öğrencilerinde sağlık okuryazarlığı ile akılcı ilaç kullanımı arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Kesitsel ve tanımlayıcı nitelikte yürütülen araştırma, Türkiye’de bir veteriner fakültesinde öğrenim gören 234 öğrenci ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Veri toplama araçları olarak sosyodemografik bilgi formu, Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Ölçeği ve Akılcı İlaç Kullanım Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Sağlık okuryazarlığı, “Tedavi ve Hizmet” ile “Hastalıklardan Korunma / Sağlığın Geliştirilmesi” temaları ve bunlara ait alt boyutlar kapsamında değerlendirilmiştir. Verilerin analizinde tanımlayıcı istatistikler ve korelasyon analizleri uygulanmıştır. Bulgular, öğrencilerin sağlık okuryazarlığı alt boyut puanlarının orta düzeyde olduğunu ve akılcı ilaç kullanım ölçeği toplam puanının 34,35 ± 5,88 olduğunu göstermiştir. “Tedavi ve Hizmet” temasına ait tüm alt boyutlar ile akılcı ilaç kullanımı arasında düşük düzeyde ancak istatistiksel olarak anlamlı negatif ilişkiler saptanmıştır (p < 0,05). “Hastalıklardan Korunma / Sağlığın Geliştirilmesi” temasında ise yalnızca “bilgiyi anlama” alt boyutu ile akılcı ilaç kullanımı arasında anlamlı ilişki belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca, akılcı ilaç kullanımı ile sınıf düzeyi arasında pozitif ilişki bulunurken, cinsiyet ile anlamlı bir ilişki saptanmamıştır. Sonuç olarak, veteriner öğrencilerinde sağlık okuryazarlığı ile akılcı ilaç kullanımı arasında anlamlı bir ilişki olduğu görülmüştür. Özellikle akılcı ilaç kullanımı dersi almamış öğrencilerde bu ilişkinin ortaya konması, veteriner hekimliği eğitim müfredatında sağlık okuryazarlığı ve akılcı ilaç kullanımına yönelik eğitimlerin önemini vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

T.C. SİVAS CUMHURİYET ÜNİVERSİTESİ REKTÖRLÜĞÜ Sosyal Bilimler Bilimsel Araştırma Önerisi Etik Değerlendirme Kurulu Sayı :E-99711239-050.04-639983 ………… Konu :Etik Kurul Kararı Sayın Dr. Öğr. Üyesi TOLGAY ERCAN Üniversitemiz Sosyal Bilimler Bilimsel Araştırma Önerisi Etik Değerlendirme Kurulunun 21.11.2025 tarih 18 sayılı kararı ile Veteriner Fakültesi Öğrencilerinin Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Düzeyleri ve Akılcı İlaç Kullanımı Arasındaki İlişkinin İncelenmesi isimli araştırmanın etik olarak uygunluğuna oy birliğiyle karar verilmiştir. Bilgilerini rica ederim. Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Kürşad ÖZKAYNAR Kurul Başkanı

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Veterinary Biochemistry

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Tolgay Ercan ^*
0000-0002-6893-4358
Türkiye

Publication Date

September 15, 2026

Submission Date

January 2, 2026

Acceptance Date

July 14, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 19 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.30607/kvj.1853849

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA44LD74GS

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Ercan, T. (2026). Investigation of the Relationship Between Health Literacy Levels and Rational Drug Use Among Veterinary Faculty Students. Kocatepe Veterinary Journal, 19(3), 329-341. https://doi.org/10.30607/kvj.1853849

AMA

1.Ercan T. Investigation of the Relationship Between Health Literacy Levels and Rational Drug Use Among Veterinary Faculty Students. kvj. 2026;19(3):329-341. doi:10.30607/kvj.1853849

Chicago

Ercan, Tolgay. 2026. “Investigation of the Relationship Between Health Literacy Levels and Rational Drug Use Among Veterinary Faculty Students”. Kocatepe Veterinary Journal 19 (3): 329-41. https://doi.org/10.30607/kvj.1853849.

EndNote

Ercan T (September 1, 2026) Investigation of the Relationship Between Health Literacy Levels and Rational Drug Use Among Veterinary Faculty Students. Kocatepe Veterinary Journal 19 3 329–341.

IEEE

[1]T. Ercan, “Investigation of the Relationship Between Health Literacy Levels and Rational Drug Use Among Veterinary Faculty Students”, kvj, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 329–341, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.30607/kvj.1853849.

ISNAD

Ercan, Tolgay. “Investigation of the Relationship Between Health Literacy Levels and Rational Drug Use Among Veterinary Faculty Students”. Kocatepe Veterinary Journal 19/3 (September 1, 2026): 329-341. https://doi.org/10.30607/kvj.1853849.

JAMA

1.Ercan T. Investigation of the Relationship Between Health Literacy Levels and Rational Drug Use Among Veterinary Faculty Students. kvj. 2026;19:329–341.

MLA

Ercan, Tolgay. “Investigation of the Relationship Between Health Literacy Levels and Rational Drug Use Among Veterinary Faculty Students”. Kocatepe Veterinary Journal, vol. 19, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 329-41, doi:10.30607/kvj.1853849.

Vancouver

1.Tolgay Ercan. Investigation of the Relationship Between Health Literacy Levels and Rational Drug Use Among Veterinary Faculty Students. kvj. 2026 Sep. 1;19(3):329-41. doi:10.30607/kvj.1853849