The Relationship of Health Literacy with Health Status, Preventive Behaviors and Health Services Utilization in Baluchistan, Iran

Izadirad, Hossien; Zareban, Iraj

doi:10.20286/jech-02036

Cited by 49 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Overall health literacy score was determined by aggregating correct answers from all questions and Research article ranged between 0 and 20. Scores were then categorized into 3 groups: inadequate (< 10), moderate (10)(11)(12)(13)(14) and adequate (> 14). Independent variables included age, sex, education, residence and occupation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lower levels of health literacy are often observed in developing settings such as the Middle Eastern context (12). In the Islamic Republic of Iran, one of the most populated countries in the Middle East, several studies have tried to measure health literacy and reported overall insufficient health literacy levels, ranging from 41% in adults in the central province of Yazd to 68% in the southeastern province of Baluchistan (13). Previous studies have also indicated varying levels of health literacy among different subpopulations of patients, e.g., 70% insufficient health literacy in patients with diabetes (14); and age groups, e.g., 79.6% insufficient health literacy among older adults (15).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Health literacy among Iranian adults: findings from a nationwide population-based survey in 2015

Haghdoost

Karamouzian

Jamshidi

et al. 2019

East Mediterr Health J

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Background: Health literacy is one of the most important determinants of noncommunicable diseases prevention. Health literacy is associated with elevated risks for poorer access to care, adverse health outcomes, and increased hospitalization and health costs. Aims: This study aimed to determine the level of health literacy among the general adult population in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study during 2014-2015 with a multistage cluster sampling approach, we administered a pilot-tested standardized questionnaire to assess different domains of health literacy (i.e., reading, comprehension, communication/decision-making and Interpretation/judgment skills, individual and social empowerment, health information access and health information use) among 8439 (3935 males) individuals aged 18-60 years. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics and multivariable linear regression method using SPSS (20) were applied to identify the factors associated with health literacy among Iranian adults. Results: The mean health literacy level was 10.2±3.8 (out of 20). Only 18% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 17.15-18.78) of the participants had adequate health literacy, while 45.7% (95% CI: 44.64-46.78) had inadequate, and the 36.3% (95% CI: 35.21-37.33) had moderate health literacy. In the adjusted linear regression model, education level (the smallest β = 4.35, P < 0.001), age (β = 0.01, P = 0.002), female sex (β = 0.45, P < 0.001), residency in rural areas (β = 0.26, P < 0.001) and having permanent job (β = 1.03, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with more health literacy. Conclusion: Our findings highlighted that the Iranian adult population has an insufficient level of health literacy, which calls for comprehensive education planning to improve the levels, with special attention to certain subpopulations (e.g. illiterate populations) and domains (e.g. individual empowerment).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health literacy among Iranian adults: findings from a nationwide population-based survey in 2015

Haghdoost

Karamouzian

Jamshidi

et al. 2019

East Mediterr Health J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Health literacy consists of cognitive and social skills determining people's motivation and capacity to obtain, understand, and use health information to inform appropriate health care decisions and behaviors (1). Health literacy can be considered a capacity that empowers people to make decisions related to their health (2,3).…”

Section: Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Health Literacy in the Iranian Population: Findings and Implications

et al. 2019

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Context: Health literacy includes social and cognitive skills determining individuals' motivation to obtain and understand health information, thus empowers them to promote healthy behaviors. The exact level of health literacy in the Iranian population is unknown, as different Iranian studies have reported different health literacy rates in the Iranian population. Objectives: Therefore, this study aimed to investigate health literacy in the Iranian population by systematically combining and analyzing findings from the previous studies. Methods: A total of 26 articles in Persian and in English, published up to December 2017 were reviewed. Searching for articles with the keywords prevalence, abundance, health literacy, and Iran was conducted in the following national and international databases: Scientific Information Database (SID), Medline, Magiran, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus. The data were analyzed using the meta-analysis method and a random effects model. The heterogeneity among the studies was examined using the I 2 statistic. All statistical analysis were performed using STATA version 12. Results: The highest levels of health literacy were for the region 1 of Iran, including the following provinces: Alborz, Tehran, Qazvin, Mazandaran, Semnan, Golestan, and Ghom (46.7% with 95% CI: 25.7-67.7). Moreover, pregnant women (37.4% with 95% CI: 27-53.3) had the highest level of health literacy. In contrast, older people (60.2% with 95% CI: 43.7-76.8) and patients with diabetes (55.4% with 95% CI: 35.6-75.2) had the lowest health literacy levels. Conclusions: The lowest health literacy level was in older people and patients with diabetes. Therefore, it seems necessary to provide education for communities and groups with inadequate health literacy levels, especially older people and patients with chronic diseases to improve their health.

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“…HL are better at self-care skills [3][4][5]. Indeed, inadequate HL is a serious obstacle to self-care behaviors in patients with chronic diseases and can affect the participation of patients in self-care [3].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, inadequate HL is a serious obstacle to self-care behaviors in patients with chronic diseases and can affect the participation of patients in self-care [3]. Also, the prevalence of chronic diseases is higher in people with inadequate HL [4]. Studies have shown that among the levels of HL, communication and critical HL skills are the essential and necessary factors for improving self-care in patients with chronic diseases because these skills increase self-esteem patients improve their ability to communicate effectively with health care providers and patients' capabilities to participate and work with the health system [3].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Health literacy and self-care in patients

et al. 2018

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Self-care is a process in which a patient uses his knowledge and skills to perform recommended behaviors. Therefore, patients should not only be able to obtain sufficient information about their illness and how to take care of them, they must also be able to use their knowledge in different situations and situations. In fact, patients for self-care and disease management, need to receive accurate and authoritative information to understand their condition as well as to collaborate on self-care programs [1]. Although doctors have historically been the most important source for health and medical information, but today, with the spread of media and the rapid dissemination of information through the internet, access to other resources is easy for the public. Therefore, patients' skills to achieve, accurate understanding and apply this information will have a significant effect on their health and well-being. These skills have recently been highly regarded as "health literacy" (HL) [2]. HL is defined as the level of individual capacity for gaining, interpreting, understanding basic information and health services that is necessary for a proper decision-making, and is divided into three levels of functional, communication, and critical [3]. In a meta-analysis study that summarizes the results of 85 different studies, the percentage of inadequate and marginal HL in the United States is estimated to be 25% and 20%, respectively. Also, in a study of patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure in two US hospitals, inadequate HL was reported to be 44% and 49%, respectively [4]. Various studies have shown that HL level is correlated with self-care behaviors in patients and people with higher levels of

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The Relationship of Health Literacy with Health Status, Preventive Behaviors and Health Services Utilization in Baluchistan, Iran

Cited by 49 publications

References 19 publications

Health literacy among Iranian adults: findings from a nationwide population-based survey in 2015

Health literacy among Iranian adults: findings from a nationwide population-based survey in 2015

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Health Literacy in the Iranian Population: Findings and Implications

Health literacy and self-care in patients

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