A Comparative Study on Health Literacy Levels of University Senior Students

Health literacy; is to protect and improve the health of the people and to improve their health; interpreting and understanding health information and services. The aim of this study is to determine the level of health literacy of senior university students. The research is a descriptive study. The study's universe consisted of 393 students in the 4th grade of the health related departments of the Faculty of Health Sciences of Gümüşhane University. Sampling method has not been used. Turkey Health Literacy Scale-32 and Turkey Health Literacy Scenario Scale were applied to 344 students who accepted to participate in the survey in classes under observation by researchers. The obtained data were analyzed with the SPSS 16.0 statistical package program on the computer. Chi-square test, Student's t test and variance analysis were used for statistical analysis. The student’s Turkey Health Literacy Scale-32 average was determined as 66.19 ± 16.05 in the research group. Of the students in the study group, 28.5% have inadequate, 29.3% have problem-limited, 38.4% have adequate, and 3.8% have a perfect level of health literacy. When the Turkey Health Literacy Scale-32 index evaluation and Turkey Health Literacy Scenario Scale evaluation of the students in the study group was compared according to their department statistically significant difference was found (p≤0.05). Nursing and Nutrition and Dietetics students were found to have a higher level of health literacy than the others and when their curriculum was examined, it has been found out that they had taken "health literacy course" and that this course did not exist in the curriculum of Health Management and Occupational Health and Safety departments. In order to increase the level of health literacy of the community heal