Level of Health Literacy among High School Students and Associated Factors

Yıl 2024, Cilt: 6 Sayı: 3, 152 - 163

Elif Üner Asil , Recep Kara , Özcan Aygün , Gonca Karayağız Muslu

https://doi.org/10.54061/jphn.1537102

Öz

Objective: Identifying the factors that influence health literacy among high school students is vital for improving health education and promoting effective health initiatives. This study aims to evaluate the health literacy levels of high school students and identify the associated factors influencing them.
Methods: A descriptive-correlational study was conducted involving 681 high school students from the Fethiye district in Turkey. Data collection utilized a sociodemographic data Form alongside the Health Literacy Scale for School-Age Children. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were applied to explore the relationships between health literacy levels and various socio-demographic and health-related factors.
Results: In this study, students' health literacy scores are at a medium level. The results showed significant associations between health literacy levels and factors such as age, economic status, perceived general and mental health, and daily internet and social media usage (p<.05). Students aged 15 and above, those with higher economic status, and those who rated their health as good or better demonstrated elevated levels of health literacy.
Conclusions: These results underscore the significant impact of age, economic status, internet and social media use, and perceived health on the health literacy levels of high school students. To improve health literacy, it is recommended to integrate health literacy topics into school curricula and organize educational activities such as seminars, conferences, and scientific events. These interventions can foster a health-conscious younger generation and promote better health outcomes.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Health Literacy, High School Students, Socio-Demographic Factors, Mental Health, Health Education.

Etik Beyan

This study was approved by Medicine and Health Sciences Ethics Committee of Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, (approval date 28.02.2023 and number 35)

Destekleyen Kurum

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors

Teşekkür

We would like to thank the school administration and students who supported the conduct of the study and data collection

Lise Öğrencileri Arasında Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Düzeyi ve İlişkili Faktörler

Öz

Amaç: Lise öğrencileri arasında sağlık okuryazarlığını etkileyen faktörlerin belirlenmesi, sağlık eğitiminin iyileştirilmesi ve etkili sağlık girişimlerinin teşvik edilmesi açısından hayati önem taşımaktadır. Bu çalışma, lise öğrencilerinin sağlık okuryazarlığı düzeylerini değerlendirmeyi ve bunları etkileyen ilişkili faktörleri belirlemeyi amaçlamaktadır.
Yöntem: Türkiye'nin Fethiye ilçesinden 681 lise öğrencisini kapsayan tanımlayıcı-ilişkisel bir çalışma yürütülmüştür. Veri toplamada sosyodemografik veri formunun yanı sıra Okul Çağı Çocukları için Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Sağlık okuryazarlığı düzeyleri ile çeşitli sosyo-demografik ve sağlıkla ilgili faktörler arasındaki ilişkileri araştırmak için ki-kare testleri ve çoklu lojistik regresyon analizleri uygulanmıştır.
Bulgular: Bu çalışmada, öğrencilerin sağlık okuryazarlığı puanları orta düzeydedir. Sonuçlar, sağlık okuryazarlığı düzeyleri ile yaş, ekonomik durum, algılanan genel sağlık ve ruh sağlığı, günlük internet ve sosyal medya kullanımı gibi faktörler arasında anlamlı ilişkiler olduğunu göstermiştir (p<.05). Yaşı 15 ve üzeri olan, ekonomik durumu daha yüksek olan ve sağlığını iyi veya daha iyi olarak değerlendiren öğrencilerin sağlık okuryazarlığı düzeyleri daha yüksek çıkmıştır.
Sonuçlar: Bu sonuçlar yaş, ekonomik durum, internet ve sosyal medya kullanımı ve algılanan sağlığın lise öğrencilerinin sağlık okuryazarlığı düzeyleri üzerindeki önemli etkisinin altını çizmektedir. Sağlık okuryazarlığını geliştirmek için, sağlık okuryazarlığı konularının okul müfredatına entegre edilmesi ve seminerler, konferanslar ve bilimsel etkinlikler gibi eğitim faaliyetlerinin düzenlenmesi önerilmektedir. Bu müdahaleler, sağlık bilincine sahip genç bir nesli teşvik edebilir ve daha iyi sağlık sonuçlarını destekleyebilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Sağlık Okuryazarlığı, Lise Öğrencileri, Sosyo-Demografik Faktörler, Ruh Sağlığı, Sağlık Eğitimi.

Etik Beyan

Bu çalışma Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Etik Kurulu tarafından onaylanmıştır (Onay tarihi ve sayısı: 28.02.2023-35).

Teşekkür

Çalışmanın yürütülmesine ve veri toplanmasına destek olan okul yönetimi ve öğrencilerine teşekkürlerimizi sunarız.

Kaynakça

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