Research Article
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Year 2025, Volume: 16 Issue: 4, 643 - 649, 01.10.2025

Müjdat Yeşildal

https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1575985

Abstract

References

  • 1. Nutbeam D. Defining and measuring health literacy: what can we learn from literacy studies? Int J Public Health. 2009;54(5):303–5.
  • 2. Nutbeam D. Health literacy as a public health goal: a challenge for contemporary health education and communication strategies into the 21st century. Health Promotion International. 2000;15(3):259–67.
  • 3. Berkman ND, Sheridan SL, Donahue KE, Halpern DJ, Crotty K. Low Health Literacy and Health Outcomes: An Updated Systematic Review. Ann Intern Med. 2011;155(2):97.
  • 4. Kickbusch I, Pelikan JM, Apfel F, Tsouros AD. Health Literacy, the solid facts. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2013. 73 p.
  • 5. Sørensen K, Van Den Broucke S, Fullam J, Doyle G, Pelikan J, Slonska Z, et al. Health literacy and public health: A systematic review and integration of definitions and models. BMC Public Health. 2012;12(1):80.
  • 6. Rudd RE. The evolving concept of Health literacy : New directions for health literacy studies. Journal of Communication in Healthcare. 2015;8(1):7–9.
  • 7. Durusu-Tanrıöver M, Yıldırım HH, Demiray-Ready FN, Çakır B, Akalın HE. Türkiye Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Araştırması. Birinci Baskı. Ankara: Sağlık-Sen Yayınları; 2014.
  • 8. Toci E, Burazeri G, Jerliu N, Sørensen K, Ramadani N, Hysa B, et al. Health literacy, self-perceived health and self-reported chronic morbidity among older people in Kosovo. Health Promot Int. 2015;30(3):667–74.
  • 9. Norman CD, Skinner HA. eHealth Literacy: Essential Skills for Consumer Health in a Networked World. J Med Internet Res. 2006 June 16;8(2):e9.
  • 10. Rowlands G, Shaw A, Jaswal S, Smith S, Harpham T. Health literacy and the social determinants of health: a qualitative model from adult learners. Health Promot Int [Internet]. 2015 [cited 2024 Oct 7]; Available from: https://academic.oup.com/heapro/article-lookup/ doi/10.1093/heapro/dav093
  • 11. Dodson S, Good S, Osborne R. Health literacy toolkit for low-and middle-income countries: a series of information sheets to empower communities and strengthen health systems. New Delhi: World Health Organization, Regional Office for South-East Asia; 2015.
  • 12. Gürbüz S, Şahin F. Sosyal Bilimlerde Araştırma Yöntemleri. 5. Baskı. Ankara: Seçkin Yayıncılık; 2018.
  • 13. Suka M, Odajima T, Kasai M, Igarashi A, Ishikawa H, Kusama M, et al. The 14-item health literacy scale for Japanese adults (HLS-14). Environ Health Prev Med. 2013;18(5):407–15.
  • 14. Türkoğlu N, Kılıc D. Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Ölçeği’nin Türkçeye Uyarlanması: Geçerlilik ve Güvenilirlik Çalışması. Anadolu Hemşirelik ve Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 2021;24(1):25–33.
  • 15. Bostan N, Örsal Ö, Karadağ E. Sağlığı Geliştirici ve Koruyucu Davranışlar Ölçeğinin Geliştirilmesi: Metodolojik Çalışma. Turkiye Klinikleri J Nurs. 2016;8(2):102–11.
  • 16. Paasche-Orlow MK, Wolf MS. The causal pathways linking health literacy to health outcomes. Am J Health Behav. 2007;31 Suppl 1:S19-26.
  • 17. van der Heide I, Wang J, Droomers M, Spreeuwenberg P, Rademakers J, Uiters E. The relationship between health, education, and health literacy: results from the Dutch Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey. J Health Commun. 2013;(Suppl 1):172–84.
  • 18. Lee SYD, Tsai TI, Tsai YW, Kuo KN. Health literacy and women’s healthrelated behaviors in Taiwan. Health Educ Behav. 2012;39(2):210–8.
  • 19. Levin-Zamir D, Bertschi I. Media Health Literacy, eHealth Literacy, and the Role of the Social Environment in Context. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(8):1643.
  • 20. Wolf MS, Gazmararian JA, Baker DW. Health literacy and functional health status among older adults. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165(17):1946–52.
  • 21. Rowlands G, Prothereo J, Winkley J, Richardson M, Seed PT, Rudd RE. A mismatch between population health literacy and the complexity of health information: an observational study. The British journal of general practice. 2015;65(635).
  • 22. Sentell TL, Halpin HA. Importance of adult literacy in understanding health disparities. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21(8):862–6.
  • 23. Van Der Vaart R, Drossaert C. Development of the Digital Health Literacy Instrument: Measuring a Broad Spectrum of Health 1.0 and Health 2.0 Skills. J Med Internet Res. 2017;19(1):e27.
  • 24. Neter E, Brainin E. eHealth literacy: extending the digital divide to the realm of health information. J Med Internet Res. 2012;14(1):e19.
  • 25. Umberson D, Thomeer MB. Family Matters: Research on Family Ties and Health, 2010-2020. J Marriage Fam. 2020;82(1):404–19.
  • 26. Mirowsky J, Ross CE. Education, social status, and health. New York: A. de Gruyter; 2003. 242 p. (Social institutions and social change).
  • 27. Zajacova A, Lawrence EM. The Relationship Between Education and Health: Reducing Disparities Through a Contextual Approach. Annual Review of Public Health. 2018;39:273–89.
  • 28. Thompson AE, Anisimowicz Y, Miedema B, Hogg W, Wodchis WP, Aubrey-Bassler K. The influence of gender and other patient characteristics on health care-seeking behaviour: a QUALICOPC study. BMC Fam Pract. 2016;17:38.
  • 29. Levine DM, Lipsitz SR, Linder JA. Trends in Seniors’ Use of Digital Health Technology in the United States, 2011-2014. JAMA. 2016;316(5):538–40.
  • 30. Nunes BP, Flores TR, Mielke GI, Thumé E, Facchini LA. Multimorbidity and mortality in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2016;67:130-8.

The Effect of Health Literacy on Health Promotion: A Cross-Sectional Study

Year 2025, Volume: 16 Issue: 4, 643 - 649, 01.10.2025

Müjdat Yeşildal

https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1575985

Abstract

Purpose: Health literacy is a critical concept that covers the competencies of individuals to access, understand, evaluate, and apply health information and directly affects health behaviors. This study examines the impact of health literacy levels of individuals living in Konya province on health promotion.
Methods: The study is cross-sectional and conducted between September and October 2024. Data were collected from a total of 1,067 adult participants. Demographic information forms, the Health Literacy Scale, and the Health Promoting and Protective Behaviors Scale were used as data collection tools. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, correlation, and linear regression analyses were applied to analyze the data.
Results: The health literacy levels of the participants differed significantly according to age, education, and income status but not according to gender and marital status. In addition, regarding health promotion, there was no significant difference in marital status and educational status, but there was a difference in gender, age, and income status. A positive and significant relationship was found between health literacy and health promotion (r=0.259, p<0.001). According to the regression analysis results, the effect of health literacy on health promotion is positive and significant (β=0.26, p<0.001).
Conclusion: Health literacy has a positive and significant impact on health promotion. Interventions to increase health literacy can play an essential role in improving the health of individuals and reducing health inequalities.

Keywords

health behavior health literacy health promotion

References

  • 1. Nutbeam D. Defining and measuring health literacy: what can we learn from literacy studies? Int J Public Health. 2009;54(5):303–5.
  • 2. Nutbeam D. Health literacy as a public health goal: a challenge for contemporary health education and communication strategies into the 21st century. Health Promotion International. 2000;15(3):259–67.
  • 3. Berkman ND, Sheridan SL, Donahue KE, Halpern DJ, Crotty K. Low Health Literacy and Health Outcomes: An Updated Systematic Review. Ann Intern Med. 2011;155(2):97.
  • 4. Kickbusch I, Pelikan JM, Apfel F, Tsouros AD. Health Literacy, the solid facts. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2013. 73 p.
  • 5. Sørensen K, Van Den Broucke S, Fullam J, Doyle G, Pelikan J, Slonska Z, et al. Health literacy and public health: A systematic review and integration of definitions and models. BMC Public Health. 2012;12(1):80.
  • 6. Rudd RE. The evolving concept of Health literacy : New directions for health literacy studies. Journal of Communication in Healthcare. 2015;8(1):7–9.
  • 7. Durusu-Tanrıöver M, Yıldırım HH, Demiray-Ready FN, Çakır B, Akalın HE. Türkiye Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Araştırması. Birinci Baskı. Ankara: Sağlık-Sen Yayınları; 2014.
  • 8. Toci E, Burazeri G, Jerliu N, Sørensen K, Ramadani N, Hysa B, et al. Health literacy, self-perceived health and self-reported chronic morbidity among older people in Kosovo. Health Promot Int. 2015;30(3):667–74.
  • 9. Norman CD, Skinner HA. eHealth Literacy: Essential Skills for Consumer Health in a Networked World. J Med Internet Res. 2006 June 16;8(2):e9.
  • 10. Rowlands G, Shaw A, Jaswal S, Smith S, Harpham T. Health literacy and the social determinants of health: a qualitative model from adult learners. Health Promot Int [Internet]. 2015 [cited 2024 Oct 7]; Available from: https://academic.oup.com/heapro/article-lookup/ doi/10.1093/heapro/dav093
  • 11. Dodson S, Good S, Osborne R. Health literacy toolkit for low-and middle-income countries: a series of information sheets to empower communities and strengthen health systems. New Delhi: World Health Organization, Regional Office for South-East Asia; 2015.
  • 12. Gürbüz S, Şahin F. Sosyal Bilimlerde Araştırma Yöntemleri. 5. Baskı. Ankara: Seçkin Yayıncılık; 2018.
  • 13. Suka M, Odajima T, Kasai M, Igarashi A, Ishikawa H, Kusama M, et al. The 14-item health literacy scale for Japanese adults (HLS-14). Environ Health Prev Med. 2013;18(5):407–15.
  • 14. Türkoğlu N, Kılıc D. Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Ölçeği’nin Türkçeye Uyarlanması: Geçerlilik ve Güvenilirlik Çalışması. Anadolu Hemşirelik ve Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 2021;24(1):25–33.
  • 15. Bostan N, Örsal Ö, Karadağ E. Sağlığı Geliştirici ve Koruyucu Davranışlar Ölçeğinin Geliştirilmesi: Metodolojik Çalışma. Turkiye Klinikleri J Nurs. 2016;8(2):102–11.
  • 16. Paasche-Orlow MK, Wolf MS. The causal pathways linking health literacy to health outcomes. Am J Health Behav. 2007;31 Suppl 1:S19-26.
  • 17. van der Heide I, Wang J, Droomers M, Spreeuwenberg P, Rademakers J, Uiters E. The relationship between health, education, and health literacy: results from the Dutch Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey. J Health Commun. 2013;(Suppl 1):172–84.
  • 18. Lee SYD, Tsai TI, Tsai YW, Kuo KN. Health literacy and women’s healthrelated behaviors in Taiwan. Health Educ Behav. 2012;39(2):210–8.
  • 19. Levin-Zamir D, Bertschi I. Media Health Literacy, eHealth Literacy, and the Role of the Social Environment in Context. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(8):1643.
  • 20. Wolf MS, Gazmararian JA, Baker DW. Health literacy and functional health status among older adults. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165(17):1946–52.
  • 21. Rowlands G, Prothereo J, Winkley J, Richardson M, Seed PT, Rudd RE. A mismatch between population health literacy and the complexity of health information: an observational study. The British journal of general practice. 2015;65(635).
  • 22. Sentell TL, Halpin HA. Importance of adult literacy in understanding health disparities. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21(8):862–6.
  • 23. Van Der Vaart R, Drossaert C. Development of the Digital Health Literacy Instrument: Measuring a Broad Spectrum of Health 1.0 and Health 2.0 Skills. J Med Internet Res. 2017;19(1):e27.
  • 24. Neter E, Brainin E. eHealth literacy: extending the digital divide to the realm of health information. J Med Internet Res. 2012;14(1):e19.
  • 25. Umberson D, Thomeer MB. Family Matters: Research on Family Ties and Health, 2010-2020. J Marriage Fam. 2020;82(1):404–19.
  • 26. Mirowsky J, Ross CE. Education, social status, and health. New York: A. de Gruyter; 2003. 242 p. (Social institutions and social change).
  • 27. Zajacova A, Lawrence EM. The Relationship Between Education and Health: Reducing Disparities Through a Contextual Approach. Annual Review of Public Health. 2018;39:273–89.
  • 28. Thompson AE, Anisimowicz Y, Miedema B, Hogg W, Wodchis WP, Aubrey-Bassler K. The influence of gender and other patient characteristics on health care-seeking behaviour: a QUALICOPC study. BMC Fam Pract. 2016;17:38.
  • 29. Levine DM, Lipsitz SR, Linder JA. Trends in Seniors’ Use of Digital Health Technology in the United States, 2011-2014. JAMA. 2016;316(5):538–40.
  • 30. Nunes BP, Flores TR, Mielke GI, Thumé E, Facchini LA. Multimorbidity and mortality in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2016;67:130-8.
There are 30 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Health Policy, Public Health (Other)
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Müjdat Yeşildal 0000-0003-1286-903X

Early Pub Date September 9, 2025
Publication Date October 1, 2025
Submission Date October 30, 2024
Acceptance Date July 17, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 16 Issue: 4

Cite

EndNote Yeşildal M (October 1, 2025) The Effect of Health Literacy on Health Promotion: A Cross-Sectional Study. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 16 4 643–649.
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