EVALUATION OF THE HEALTH LITERACY LEVELS IN SOCIAL WORKERS

Abstract

Health literacy levels of social workers working with disadvantaged or risky groups of society have a very important place in the protection of public health. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between the level of health literacy knowledge of social workers in Turkey and various variables. In this study, 237 social workers working in institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Family and Social Policies and the Ministry of Health in different provinces of Turkey were included in the analysis. Health literacy levels were measured using Turkey’s Health Literacy (TSOY-32). The SPSS package program was used in the statistical analysis of the data and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. According to the TSOY-32 averages, 59.8% had inadequate and problematic health literacy levels. More than half of the participants (68.1%) stated that they did not have enough information about health, 40.6% did not know the concept of health literacy, and 16.6% were not aware of the national health campaigns of the Ministry of Health. The percentage of those who think that the role of social workers in the formulation of health policies is adequate (9.6%) is quite low. In conclusion, it is thought that this study will contribute to the literature because there is no study to determine the health literacy of social workers and related variables in Turkey. More studies should be conducted on the effectiveness of specific training programs and, the content, duration and, methods of these programs to increase the health literacy levels of social workers.

Keywords

• Health services
• health literacy
• social work
• social worker

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