Background: Health literacy enhances a population’s self-care capacity and helps to reduce health inequalities. This work examines the health literacy of a population attending primary care services and explores its relationship with sociodemographic factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted at a healthcare center in the Madrid region (Spain), involved adult patients requiring primary care nursing services. One hundred and sixty-six participants were recruited via systematic random sampling. Health literacy was measured using the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ). Results: The studied population showed higher health literacy scores for literacy dimensions 1 (feeling understood and supported by healthcare providers) and 4 (social support for health); the lowest scores were recorded for dimensions 5 (appraisal of health information) and 8 (ability to find good health information). People with a better perceived health status showed a higher level of health literacy. People over 65 years of age, those with an incomplete secondary education, and those who were unemployed returned lower scores for several literacy dimensions. Conclusions: The results contribute to our understanding of the factors that influence health literacy. Identifying the areas in which patients show the poorest health literacy may help us comprehend their needs and better support them.
Background: Adequate eHealth literacy levels empower people to make informed decisions, enhancing their autonomy. The current study assessed a group using primary care services for their eHealth literacy and examined its relationship with sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: Adult patients in need of primary care nursing services participated in this cross-sectional study, which was carried out in a healthcare center in the Madrid region of Spain. Through systematic random sampling, 166 participants were chosen for the study. The eHealth Literacy Questionnaire was used to assess eHealth literacy (eHLQ). Results: The studied population showed higher eHealth literacy scores in dimensions 2 (“understanding of health concepts and language”) and 4 (“feel safe and in control”); the lowest scores were recorded for dimensions 1 (“using technology to process health information”), 3 (“ability to actively engage with digital services”), and 7 (“digital services that suit individual needs”). People with completed secondary education and a better-perceived health status who were younger and employed showed a higher level of eHealth literacy. Conclusions: The findings advance our knowledge of the variables affecting eHealth literacy. We may be able to understand patients’ needs and provide them with greater support if we can pinpoint the areas where they demonstrate the lowest eHealth literacy.
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