A comparison of health literacy measurement tools in a sample of college students

Health literacy is an important predictor of health behavior and health outcomes, yet its measurement remains challenging. This study assessed health literacy measurement tools among college students to provide recommendations for future research. A sample of 122 college students completed a survey...

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Main Authors: Jennifer Manganello, Oyenike Ilaka, Guher Gorgun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: New Prairie Press 2024-12-01
Series:Health Behavior Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://newprairiepress.org/hbr/vol7/iss4/16/
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author Jennifer Manganello
Oyenike Ilaka
Guher Gorgun
author_facet Jennifer Manganello
Oyenike Ilaka
Guher Gorgun
author_sort Jennifer Manganello
collection DOAJ
description Health literacy is an important predictor of health behavior and health outcomes, yet its measurement remains challenging. This study assessed health literacy measurement tools among college students to provide recommendations for future research. A sample of 122 college students completed a survey including the Single Item Health Literacy Screener (SILS) as well as three additional health literacy assessments. These included the Rapid Estimate of Adolescent Literacy in Medicine (REALM-Teen), Newest Vital Sign (NVS), and Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA). All scored high on the S-TOFHLA, but participants with lower health literacy emerged with the SILS (21%), REALM-Teen (17%), and NVS (13%). Logistic regression analysis identified race, home language, and father’s education as predictors of low health literacy, but this varied by tool. The sensitivity of the four measurement tools also varied. Continued assessment of existing tools and exploration of new measures can advance the study of health literacy and health behavior.
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spelling doaj-art-1175dc45c24d43d5a9f62eb3c9eeeeab2024-12-26T13:32:09ZengNew Prairie PressHealth Behavior Research2572-18362024-12-017410.4148/2572-1836.1239A comparison of health literacy measurement tools in a sample of college studentsJennifer ManganelloOyenike IlakaGuher GorgunHealth literacy is an important predictor of health behavior and health outcomes, yet its measurement remains challenging. This study assessed health literacy measurement tools among college students to provide recommendations for future research. A sample of 122 college students completed a survey including the Single Item Health Literacy Screener (SILS) as well as three additional health literacy assessments. These included the Rapid Estimate of Adolescent Literacy in Medicine (REALM-Teen), Newest Vital Sign (NVS), and Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA). All scored high on the S-TOFHLA, but participants with lower health literacy emerged with the SILS (21%), REALM-Teen (17%), and NVS (13%). Logistic regression analysis identified race, home language, and father’s education as predictors of low health literacy, but this varied by tool. The sensitivity of the four measurement tools also varied. Continued assessment of existing tools and exploration of new measures can advance the study of health literacy and health behavior.https://newprairiepress.org/hbr/vol7/iss4/16/health literacymeasurementcollegehealth behavior
spellingShingle Jennifer Manganello
Oyenike Ilaka
Guher Gorgun
A comparison of health literacy measurement tools in a sample of college students
Health Behavior Research
health literacy
measurement
college
health behavior
title A comparison of health literacy measurement tools in a sample of college students
title_full A comparison of health literacy measurement tools in a sample of college students
title_fullStr A comparison of health literacy measurement tools in a sample of college students
title_full_unstemmed A comparison of health literacy measurement tools in a sample of college students
title_short A comparison of health literacy measurement tools in a sample of college students
title_sort comparison of health literacy measurement tools in a sample of college students
topic health literacy
measurement
college
health behavior
url https://newprairiepress.org/hbr/vol7/iss4/16/
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