Evaluation of the effectiveness of a health literacy education program during the pandemic

Year 2022, Volume: 35 Issue: 2, 230 - 236, 30.05.2022

Hilal Kurt Sezer Deniz Sumeyye Yorulmaz Sibel Kucukoglu

https://doi.org/10.5472/marumj.1121841

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the effectiveness of a health literacy education program on first and emergency aid students during
the pandemic.

Materials and Methods: This study adopted a single group pre-test-post-test quasi-experimental design. The study population
consisted of 135 students of the First and Emergency Aid Program of a private university in Konya, Turkey. No sampling was
performed because we could reach the entire study population. Therefore, the sample consisted of 114 students. Participants attended
a health literacy education program (intervention). Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a personal information
form and the Health Literacy Scale (HLS). Number, percentage, and Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze the data. The study
adhered to all ethical principles.

Results: Participants had a significantly higher mean post-test HLS score (117 ± 5.03) than the pre-test score (105 ± 11.50) (p
<0.05). Participants with a high income had a significantly higher mean post-test HLS score than those with a low income (p <0.05).
Participants covered by insurance had a significantly higher mean post-test HLS score than those who were not (p <0.05). Participants
who did regular exercise had a significantly higher mean post-test HLS score than those who did not (p <0.05). Participants who knew
about health literacy before the intervention had a significantly higher mean post-test HLS score than those who did not (p <0.05).

Conclusion: The education program helped participants learn more about health literacy. Therefore, universities should integrate it
into their curricula.

Keywords

Education, Health Literacy, Students

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