Yetişkin Bireylerin Sağlık Okuryazarlık Düzeylerinin Demografik Değişkenlerle İncelenmesi

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı, yetişkin bireylerin sağlık okuryazarlık düzeylerini cinsiyet, yaş, eğitim durumu ve meslek açısından incelemek ve bu değişkenlerin yetişkin bireylerin sağlık okuryazarlıkları üzerindeki etkisini değerlendirmektir. Araştırmada tabakalı örneklem yöntemi kullanılmış ve veriler anket yöntemiyle elde edilmiştir. Yetişkin bireylere ilk olarak demografik özellikler ve ikinci olarak sağlık okuryazarlığı ölçeği uygulanmıştır. Malatya’dan 293 birey, Elazığ’dan ise 218 birey olmak üzere toplamda 511 yetişkin birey çalışmaya dâhil edilmiştir. Çalışmada güvenirlik, normallik, T – testi ve ANOVA analizleri uygulanmıştır. Yetişkin bireylerin sağlık okuryazarlıkları ile cinsiyet, yaş, eğitim durumu ve meslekleri arasında anlamlı farklılık olduğu görülmüştür. Çalışmanın bulguları sağlık okuryazarlığını yükseltmenin en önemli kaynaklarından birinin dijital araçlar olduğunu vurgulamaktadır. Sağlık okuryazarlığını arttırmak için dijital araçların bireyselleştirilmesi ve her yaş grubuna göre dijital araçları kullanma becerilerini arttırmaya yönelik eğitimlere ağırlık verilmesi gerektiğini vurgulamaktadır. Çünkü sağlık okuryazarlığı, bireylerin güvenilir sağlık bilgilerine erişim sağlarken, kendi sağlıkları ile ilgili durumlarda etkin rol almalarını gerektiren ve bireylerin demografik özelliklerine göre farklılık gösteren bir kavramdır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sağlık
• Sağlık Okuryazarlığı
• Dijitalleşme
• Dijital Sağlık Okuryazarlığı

Examination of Adults’ Health Literacy Levels in Relation to Demographic Variables

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine adults’ health literacy levels in terms of gender, age, education level and occupation and to evaluate the impact of these variables on the health literacy of adults. The study used a stratified sampling method and the data were obtained through a survey. Participants first completed a section on demographic characteristics, followed by a health literacy scale. A total of 511 adults were included in the study, with 293 participants from Malatya and 218 from Elazığ. Data analysis included reliability and normality tests, as well as t-test and ANOVA. A significant differences were found in the health literacy levels of adults based on gender, age, education level, and occupation. The findings of the study emphasize that one of the most important sources of increasing health literacy is digital tools. To enhance health literacy, these digital tools should be individualized and training should be given to increase the skills of using digital tools for each age group. This is because health literacy requires individuals to access reliable information and take an active role in their own health decisions. Furthermore, as confirmed by this study, health literacy varies according to individuals’ demographic characteristics.

Keywords

• Health
• Health Literacy
• Digitalization
• Digital Health Literacy

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