Health literacy in higher education students: findings from a Portuguese study

Abstract

Background Health literacy (HL) concerns the knowledge and competences of people to meet the complex demands of health in modern society. It is essential for health promotion, disease prevention and healthcare. Young adults can perform a very important role in taking a more active role in managing and protect their health, so this study aimed to identify the HL levels in the population of higher education students, according to the European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU-PT) and to evaluate its association with social and academic determinants. Methods A quantitative, observational, and cross-sectional study was carried out based on an online survey disseminated in Portuguese universities. Data were analysed using binary logistic regression, adjusted for age, income, parents’ education, gender, and chronic disease report. Results In total, 4801 students were surveyed, 76% female. Of those, 44% revealed a problematic or inadequate level of HL. Those students with higher income levels (OR (95% CI), OR = 4.5 (3.4; 5.9) and whose parents had higher education levels (OR = 1.3(1.1; 1.5) had higher odds of achieving sufficient or excellent levels of HL, even after adjusting for confounders. In what concerns academic determinants, data revealed that HL tends to be sufficient or excellent among those students from health-related courses (OR = 2.0 (1.6; 2.5). In the subgroup of students from non-health-related courses, it was found that HL levels do not differ in 1st year and last year's students. However, in students from health-related courses, data revealed that a last yeaŕs students had higher odds of having sufficient or excellent HL levels compared to a 1st-year student (OR = 1.7 (1.4; 2.2). Conclusions This study reveals low HL levels and addresses that socioeconomic and familiar context are determinants of HL in higher education students. Future intervention studies are needed, focused on these determinants so that adequate levels of HL are achieved in higher education students. Key messages

Determinan Sosial yang Berhubungan dengan Tingkat Literasi Kesehatan Mental Mahasiswa S1 Reguler Angkatan 2018 Universitas Andalas Provinsi Sumatera Barat

“…Hal ini dimungkinkan karena fakultas kesehatan lebih banyak terpapar informasi -informasi kesehatan, baik dari kurikulum pelajaran, pelatihan ataupun seminar yang mereka ikuti (40). Pada penelitian terhadap mahasiswa di Portugis, mengungkapkan bahwa literasi kesehatan cenderung cukup atau sangat baik diantara mahasiswa dari jurusan terkait kesehatan (41). Mahasiswa psikologi dan kedokteran menunjukkan tingkat literasi kesehatan mental yang lebih tinggi, dibandingkan dengan mahasiswa dari bidang ilmu alam, ekonomi, dan hukum (42).…”

Efficacy of health literacy interventions aimed to improve health gains of higher education students—a systematic review

“…According to research, higher education students exhibit lower levels of health literacy compared to other students of the same age [14]. For instance, a study conducted on Portuguese students found that 44% of them had problematic or inadequate health literacy levels [15]. University is a crucial transitional period for many students, as they move from adolescence to young adulthood and become more independent in making healthrelated decisions [16].…”