Health Literacy Among University Students and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey Among Pharmacy Students

Bülent Kıran; Elif Gizem Karaca; Hür Hassoy

Health Literacy Among University Students and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey Among Pharmacy Students

Abstract

Health literacy is an important topic for both healthcare service providers and recipients to ensure cost-efficient utilization of healthcare services and to improve health outputs. The study intended to identify health literacy of students at the faculty of pharmacy, who are future healthcare professionals. This cross-sectional study comprises 691 undergraduate students enrolled in the Faculty of Pharmacy at Ege University. “Health Literacy Scale of Turkey” was used to measure health literacy, which is the dependent variable of the study; and the questionnaire, which was used as the data collection tool, was implemented through face-to-face interviews. Correlation between categorical data was identified by chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. 548 students responded to the questionnaire (Response rate=79.3%). Students attending 1st year had 2.53 (95%CI=1.47–4.36) times higher odds of having inadequate health literacy; those who did not exercise ran 1.98 times (95%CI=1.32–2.97) higher odds of having inadequate health literacy. The odds of having inadequate health literacy were 3.44 times (95% CI=1.02–12.35) higher among the students residing abroad as opposed to those living in a metropolitan city, and it was 1.70 times (95% CI=1.13–2.55) higher among those living in city centers. Identified health literacy rates were low when compared to the health literacy rates of pharmacy students in other countries. These results will contribute to incorporate the concept of health literacy into pharmacy education, particularly through adjustments to be made on the curriculum for new students.

Keywords

References

[1] Kwan B, Frankish J, Rootman I. The Development and Validation of Measures of “Health Literacy” In Different Populations. University of British Columbia Institute of Health Promotion Research and University of Victoria Centre for Community Health Promotion Research: University of British Columbia, 2006.
[2] Kanj M, Mitic W. Working Document of 7th Global Conference on Health Promotion, Promoting Health and Development: Closing The Implementation Gap. Nairobi. Kenya. 2009.
[3] World Health Organization. Health Literacy and Health Behaviour. https://www.who.int/healthpromotion/conferences/7gchp/track2/en/ (accesed on 3 July 2019).
[4] Uğraş Dikmen A, Özkan S. [Migrants and Health Literacy]. In: Özkan S (editor). Sağlık Okuryazarlığı. Türkiye Klinikleri, Ankara, 2019, pp. 62–66. (chapter in Turkish with an abstract in English)
[5] Avcı E, Özkan S. [The Level of Health Literacy in World and Turkey and Affecting Factors]. In: Özkan S (editor). Sağlık Okuryazarlığı. Türkiye Klinikleri, Ankara, 2019, pp. 16–21. (chapter in Turkish with an abstract in English)
[6] Kutner M, Greenberg E, Jin Y, Paulsen C. The Health Literacy of America’s Adults: Results From the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy. U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC; 2006. Report No.: NCES 2006–483.
[7] Sørensen K, Pelikan JM, Röthlin F, Ganahl K, Slonska Z, Doyle G, Fullam J, Kondilis B, Agrafiotis D, Uieters E, Falcon M, Mensing M, Tchamov K, van den Broucke S, Brand H, HLS EU Consortium. Health Literacy in Europe: Comparative Results of The European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU). Eur J Public Health. 2015; 25(6): 1053–1058. [CrossRef]
[8] Durusu Tanrıöver M, Yıldırım HH, Demiray Ready N, Çakır B, Akalın E. Türki̇ye Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Araştırması. 1. Baskı. Ankara: Sağlık-Sen Yayınları; 2014.

[9] İlbars H. [The Role of Pharmacist in Health Literacy]. In: Özkan S (editor). Sağlık Okuryazarlığı. Türkiye Klinikleri, Ankara, 2019, pp. 27–32. (chapter in Turkish with an abstract in English)
[10] Zhang Y, Zhang F, Hu P, Huang W, Lu L, Bai R, Sharma M, Zhao Y. Exploring Health Literacy in Medical University Students of Chongqing, China: A Cross-Sectional Study. PLoS One 2016; 11(4): e0152547. [CrossRef]
[11] Newsome C, Mallawaarachchi I, Conklin J, Ray G. Health Literacy of Student Pharmacists. Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2018; 10(3): 340–343. [CrossRef]
[12] Štefková G, Čepová E, Kolarčik P, Madarasová Gecková A. The Level of Health Literacy of Students at Medical Faculties. Kontakt. 2018; 20(4): e363–369. [CrossRef]
[13] Çalgan Z, Aslan D, Yeǧenoǧlu S. [Assessments Regarding Working Conditions and Job Attitudes of Community Pharmacists: An Example From Ankara City Center]. Ankara Univ Eczac Fak Derg. 2008; 37(4): 257–268. (article in Turkish with an abstract in English)
[14] Erku DA, Mersha AG. Involvement of Community Pharmacists in Public Health Priorities: A Multi-Center Descriptive Survey in Ethiopia. PLoS One. 2017; 12(7): e0180943. [CrossRef]
[15] T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı Sağlık Hizmetleri Genel Müdürlüğü. Sağlık Hizmeti Sunucularının Basamaklandırılması Hakkında Genelge https://www.teis.org.tr/2019/06/01/saglik-hizmeti-sunucularinin-basamaklandirilmasi-hakkinda-genelge/ (accesed on 20 June 2019).
[16] Yılmaz Güven D, Bulut H, Öztürk S. [Examining the Health Literacy Levels of Health Sciences Faculty Students]. J Hist Cult Art Res. 2018; 7(2): 400. (article in Turkish with an abstract in English) [CrossRef]
[17] Şahinöz T, Şahinöz S, Kıvanç A. [A Comparative Study on Health Literacy Levels of University Senior Students]. Gümüşhane Univ J Heal Sci. 2018; 7(3): 71–9. (article in Turkish with an abstract in English)
[18] Malik M. Functional Health Literacy Among Undergraduate Pharmacy Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from Pakistan. Pharm Pharmacol Int J. 2017; 5(5): 190–194. [CrossRef]
[19] Elsborg L, Krossdal F, Kayser L. Health Literacy Among Danish University Students Enrolled in Health-Related Study Programmes. Scand J Public Health. 2017; 45(8): 831–838. [CrossRef]
[20] Zhang Y, Zhang F, Hu P, Huang W, Lu L, Bai R, Zhao Y. Exploring Health Literacy in Nursing Students of Chongqing, China: A Cross-Sectional Survey Using the Health Literacy Questionnaire. Lancet. 2016; 388(Special Issue): 99. [CrossRef]
[21] Erunal M, Ozkaya B, Mert H, Kucukguclu O. Investigation of Health Literacy Levels of Nursing Students and Affecting Factors. Int J Caring Sci. 2019; 12(1): 270–279. [CrossRef]
[22] Ergün S. [Health Literacy in School of Health Students]. Kocaeli Med J. 2017; 6(3): 1–6. (article in Turkish with an abstract in English)
[23] İnkaya B, Tüzer H. [Investigation of Health Literacy of Reading Students in Social and Health Sciences of a University]. Kocaeli Med J. 2018; 7(3): 124–129. (article in Turkish with an abstract in English)
[24] Lestari P, Handiyani H. The Higher Level of Health Literacy Among Health Students Compared with Non-Health Students. UI Proc Heal. 2017; 1: 1-5.
[25] Mnatzaganian C, Fricovsky E, Best BM, Singh RF. An İnteractive, Multifaceted Approach to Enhancing Pharmacy Students’ Health Literacy Knowledge and Confidence. Am J Pharm Educ .2017; 81(2): 1–9.
[26] Swinburne GJ, Duncan GJ, McNamara KP, Stewart K, Emmerton LM, Hussainy SY. An İnternational Survey of Health Literacy Education within Schools of Pharmacy. Pharm Educ. 2014; 14(1): 93–100.
[27] Vozikis A, Drivas K, Milioris K. Health Literacy Among University Students in Greece: Determinants and Association with Self-Perceived Health, Health Behaviours and Health Risks. Arch Public Heal. 2014; 72(1): 1–6. [CrossRef]
[28] Geboers B, Reijneveld SA, Jansen CJM, de Winter AF. Health Literacy is Associated with Health Behaviors and Social Factors Among Older Adults: Results from the Lifelines Cohort Study. J Health Commun. 2016; 21: 45–53. [CrossRef]
[29] Wolf MS, Gazmararian JA, Baker DW. Health Literacy and Health Risk Behaviors Among Older Adults. Am J Prev Med. 2007; 32(1): 19–24. [CrossRef]
[30] Rasmussen M, Holstein BE, Melkevik O, Damsgaard MT. Validity of Self-Reported Height and Weight Among Adolescents: The İmportance of Reporting Capability. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2013; 13: 85. [CrossRef]
[31] Brener ND, Mcmanus T, Galuska DA, Lowry R, Wechsler H. Reliability and Validity of Self-Reported Height and Weight Among High School Students. J Adolesc Heal. 2003; 32(4): 281–287. [CrossRef]
[32] Lim LL, Seubsman SA, Sleigh A. Validity of Self-Reported Weight, Height and Body Mass İndex Among University Students in Thailand: Implications for Population Studies of Obesity in Developing Countries. Popul Health Metr. 2009; 7(15). [CrossRef]
[33] Durmus H, Gökler ME, Havlioğlu S. Reliability and Validity of the Turkish Version of the Short Food Literacy Questionnaire Among University Students. Prog Nutr. 2019; 21(2): 333–338. [CrossRef]
[34] Okyay P, Abacıgil F, Harlak H. Türki̇ye Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Ölçeği. In: Okyay P, Abacıgil F, editors. Türkiye Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Ölçekleri Güvenilirlik ve Geçerlilik Çalışması. Sağlık Bakanlığı Yayın No : 1025, Ankara, 2016, pp. 43–60.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Bülent Kıran ^*
0000-0001-8734-6095
Türkiye

Elif Gizem Karaca
0000-0001-9432-7888
Türkiye

Hür Hassoy
0000-0001-7180-395X
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 28, 2025

Submission Date

April 21, 2022

Acceptance Date

May 24, 2022

Published in Issue

Year 2022 Volume: 26 Number: 4

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA99GC83DR

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Kıran, B., Karaca, E. G., & Hassoy, H. (2025). Health Literacy Among University Students and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey Among Pharmacy Students. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, 26(4), 1025-1036. https://izlik.org/JA99GC83DR

AMA

1.Kıran B, Karaca EG, Hassoy H. Health Literacy Among University Students and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey Among Pharmacy Students. J. Res. Pharm. 2025;26(4):1025-1036. https://izlik.org/JA99GC83DR

Chicago

Kıran, Bülent, Elif Gizem Karaca, and Hür Hassoy. 2025. “Health Literacy Among University Students and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey Among Pharmacy Students”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 26 (4): 1025-36. https://izlik.org/JA99GC83DR.

EndNote

Kıran B, Karaca EG, Hassoy H (June 1, 2025) Health Literacy Among University Students and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey Among Pharmacy Students. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 26 4 1025–1036.

IEEE

[1]B. Kıran, E. G. Karaca, and H. Hassoy, “Health Literacy Among University Students and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey Among Pharmacy Students”, J. Res. Pharm., vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 1025–1036, June 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA99GC83DR

ISNAD

Kıran, Bülent - Karaca, Elif Gizem - Hassoy, Hür. “Health Literacy Among University Students and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey Among Pharmacy Students”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 26/4 (June 1, 2025): 1025-1036. https://izlik.org/JA99GC83DR.

JAMA

1.Kıran B, Karaca EG, Hassoy H. Health Literacy Among University Students and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey Among Pharmacy Students. J. Res. Pharm. 2025;26:1025–1036.

MLA

Kıran, Bülent, et al. “Health Literacy Among University Students and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey Among Pharmacy Students”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, vol. 26, no. 4, June 2025, pp. 1025-36, https://izlik.org/JA99GC83DR.

Vancouver

1.Bülent Kıran, Elif Gizem Karaca, Hür Hassoy. Health Literacy Among University Students and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey Among Pharmacy Students. J. Res. Pharm. [Internet]. 2025 Jun. 1;26(4):1025-36. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA99GC83DR