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 cross-sectional 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 Gümü？hane University in 2017-2018 academic year. 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 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% had inadequate health literacy, 29.3% had problem-limited health literacy, 38.4% had adequate health literacy, 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. When their curriculum was examined, it has been found out that Nursing and Nutrition and Dietetic students had taken "health literacy course" and that this course did not exist in the curriculum of Health Management and Occupational Health and Safety departments. This shows that the main reason for the difference is "health literacy course". In order to increase the level of health literacy of the community, university education should be considered as the last opportunity and health literacy courses should be put in all departments