Research Article

COVID-19-Related Knowledge and Health Literacy Among Village Heads (Muhtars) and Their Relatıves: A Pre-Test–Post-Test Study

Volume: 3 Number: 2 August 10, 2026
Journal of Medical Education and Family Medicine Cover
Journal of Medical Education and Family Medicine
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COVID-19-Related Knowledge and Health Literacy Among Village Heads (Muhtars) and Their Relatıves: A Pre-Test–Post-Test Study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate COVID-19-related knowledge and health literacy levels among village heads and their relatives in the Çarşamba district of Samsun, Türkiye, and to assess the effectiveness of a structured educational intervention. Methods: This descriptive study included 206 participants between December 18, 2020, and June 30, 2021. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Turkish Health Literacy Scale-32 (THLS-32), and a COVID-19 Knowledge Questionnaire. Pre- and postintervention knowledge levels were compared using appropriate statistical analyses. Results: The mean age of the participants was 48.46 ± 10.06 years, and 55.3% were village heads. Most participants had inadequate or problematic-limited health literacy levels. The mean number of correct responses increased significantly from 10.22 ± 2.33 before training to 14.99 ± 1.20 after training (P < .001). Significant improvements were observed in correct response rates for most questionnaire items. Conclusion: Village heads and their relatives had limited COVID-19-related knowledge and health literacy; however, structured educational interventions significantly improved knowledge levels. Community-based health literacy interventions may support preventive health practices and strengthen health communication in family medicine and primary care settings.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

none

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Samsun Training and Research Hospital (Decision No: GOKA/2020/16/2). The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to enrollment.

Thanks

The authors thank all village heads and their relatives for their voluntary participation in this study. We also acknowledge the support of local administrative authorities and health institutions that facilitated the implementation of the study. We are grateful to all trainers and staff who contributed to the planning and conduct of the educational activities.

References

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  2. Cowling BJ, Ali ST, Ng TWY, et al. Impact assessment of non-pharmaceutical interventions against coronavirus disease 2019 and influenza in Hong Kong: An observational study. Lancet Public Health. 2020;5:e279–e288.
  3. Okan O, Bollweg TM, Berens EM, Hurrelmann K, Bauer U, Schaeffer D. Coronavirus-related health literacy: A cross-sectional study in adults during the COVID-19 infodemic in Germany. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(15):5503.
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  6. Bertelsmann Stiftung. Fake health information: How it can be identified and contained. Spotlight Healthcare: Data, Analyses, Perspectives. No. 3. Gütersloh: Bertelsmann Stiftung; 2019.
  7. Ashrafi-Rizi H, Kazempour Z. Information diet in COVID-19 crisis: A commentary. Arch Acad Emerg Med. 2020;8:e30.
  8. Paakkari L, Okan O. COVID-19: Health literacy is an underestimated problem. Lancet Public Health. 2020;5:e249–e250.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Lifelong learning, Family Medicine, Primary Health Care

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Publication Date

August 10, 2026

Submission Date

May 5, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 19, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 3 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.62425/jmefm.1941394

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA59HN67KW

Cite

RIS / Bibtex
APA
Oruç, M. A., Bayram, N., Arslan, S., Beşirli, Ş., Gülten, S., & Akyüz, M. F. (2026). COVID-19-Related Knowledge and Health Literacy Among Village Heads (Muhtars) and Their Relatıves: A Pre-Test–Post-Test Study. Journal of Medical Education and Family Medicine, 3(2), 80-85. https://doi.org/10.62425/jmefm.1941394
AMA
1.Oruç MA, Bayram N, Arslan S, Beşirli Ş, Gülten S, Akyüz MF. COVID-19-Related Knowledge and Health Literacy Among Village Heads (Muhtars) and Their Relatıves: A Pre-Test–Post-Test Study. J Med Educ Family Med. 2026;3(2):80-85. doi:10.62425/jmefm.1941394
Chicago
Oruç, Muhammet Ali, Nuran Bayram, Selami Arslan, Şengül Beşirli, Sinan Gülten, and Muhammet Faruk Akyüz. 2026. “COVID-19-Related Knowledge and Health Literacy Among Village Heads (Muhtars) and Their Relatıves: A Pre-Test–Post-Test Study”. Journal of Medical Education and Family Medicine 3 (2): 80-85. https://doi.org/10.62425/jmefm.1941394.
EndNote
Oruç MA, Bayram N, Arslan S, Beşirli Ş, Gülten S, Akyüz MF (August 1, 2026) COVID-19-Related Knowledge and Health Literacy Among Village Heads (Muhtars) and Their Relatıves: A Pre-Test–Post-Test Study. Journal of Medical Education and Family Medicine 3 2 80–85.
IEEE
[1]M. A. Oruç, N. Bayram, S. Arslan, Ş. Beşirli, S. Gülten, and M. F. Akyüz, “COVID-19-Related Knowledge and Health Literacy Among Village Heads (Muhtars) and Their Relatıves: A Pre-Test–Post-Test Study”, J Med Educ Family Med, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 80–85, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.62425/jmefm.1941394.
ISNAD
Oruç, Muhammet Ali - Bayram, Nuran - Arslan, Selami - Beşirli, Şengül - Gülten, Sinan - Akyüz, Muhammet Faruk. “COVID-19-Related Knowledge and Health Literacy Among Village Heads (Muhtars) and Their Relatıves: A Pre-Test–Post-Test Study”. Journal of Medical Education and Family Medicine 3/2 (August 1, 2026): 80-85. https://doi.org/10.62425/jmefm.1941394.
JAMA
1.Oruç MA, Bayram N, Arslan S, Beşirli Ş, Gülten S, Akyüz MF. COVID-19-Related Knowledge and Health Literacy Among Village Heads (Muhtars) and Their Relatıves: A Pre-Test–Post-Test Study. J Med Educ Family Med. 2026;3:80–85.
MLA
Oruç, Muhammet Ali, et al. “COVID-19-Related Knowledge and Health Literacy Among Village Heads (Muhtars) and Their Relatıves: A Pre-Test–Post-Test Study”. Journal of Medical Education and Family Medicine, vol. 3, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 80-85, doi:10.62425/jmefm.1941394.
Vancouver
1.Muhammet Ali Oruç, Nuran Bayram, Selami Arslan, Şengül Beşirli, Sinan Gülten, Muhammet Faruk Akyüz. COVID-19-Related Knowledge and Health Literacy Among Village Heads (Muhtars) and Their Relatıves: A Pre-Test–Post-Test Study. J Med Educ Family Med. 2026 Aug. 1;3(2):80-5. doi:10.62425/jmefm.1941394

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