Exploring Health Literacy and Associated Factors Among Turkish Academics

Öz

Background: Health literacy has become an important health policy and health promotion agenda item in recent years. In addition, it is thought that academicians have an important role in the development of health literacy in society. With this research, it was aimed to examine the level of health literacy and related factors in academicians. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in all faculties of a university in Turkey. Academicians were selected by stratified and simple random sampling (293). In the collection of data, it was prepared by the researchers by examining the literature; Personal Information Form and Health Literacy Scale were used. Results: Mean score on the Health Literacy Scale was 108.49 ± 10.66. Higher scores were obtained by females, those who did not smoke or drink alcohol, those who always ate healthily, those who had had no difficulties in accessing health services, and those who perceived their quality of life and general health as very good, and the difference was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was determined that the health literacy level of the academicians was between “I have a little difficulty” and “I have no difficulty”. Academicians have an important position as role models in the development of society. For this reason, it is important to initiate projects to increase the health literacy levels of academicians.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Health
• Health Literacy
• Academician

Türk Akademisyenler Arasında Sağlık Okuryazarlığı ve İlişkili Faktörlerin Belirlenmesi

Öz

Giriş: Sağlık okuryazarlığı son yıllarda önemli bir sağlık politikası ve sağlığı geliştirme gündemi unsuru haline gelmiştir. Ayrıca toplumda sağlık okuryazarlığının geliştirilmesinde akademisyenlerin önemli bir rolü olduğu düşünülmektedir. Amaç: Bu araştırma ile akademisyenlerde sağlık okuryazarlığı düzeyi ve ilişkili faktörleri incelemek amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem: Bu kesitsel çalışma Türkiye’deki bir üniversitenin tüm fakültelerinde yapılmıştır. Akademisyenler tabakalı ve basit tesadüfi örnekleme (293) ile seçilmiştir. Verilerin toplanmasında araştırmacılar tarafından literatür incelenerek hazırlanmış; Kişisel Bilgi Formu ve Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Ölçeği ortalama puanı 108.49 ± 10.66 olarak bulunmuştur. Kadınlarda, sigara ve alkol kullanmayanlarda, her zaman sağlıklı beslenenlerde, sağlık hizmetlerine erişimde zorluk yaşamayanlarda, yaşam kalitelerini ve genel sağlıklarını çok iyi algılayanlarda daha yüksek puanlar elde edilmiştir. Fark istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Araştırma sonucunda akademisyenlerin sağlık okuryazarlık düzeylerinin “biraz zorlanıyorum” ile “hiç zorlanmıyorum” arasında olduğu belirlendi. Akademisyenler, toplumun gelişmesinde rol model olarak önemli bir konuma sahiptir. Bu nedenle akademisyenlerin sağlık okuryazarlık düzeylerini artırmaya yönelik projelerin başlatılması önemlidir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sağlık
• Sağlık Okuryazarlığı
• Akademisyen

Kaynakça

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