Prevalence and predisposing factors of health literacy of nursing students: A large cross-sectional study

The research was carried out to determine the level of health literacy of nursing students and predict the risk factors.

A cross-sectional design was used. The research population was the nursing students of two universities in Ankara, Turkiye. Sample was consisted of 1147 students who agreed to participate. Data were collected with Personal Information Form and Türkiye Health Literacy Scale-32. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the predictors of health literacy.

Of the students, 14% of students were inadequate and 41.7% of them were problematic-limited, 30.9% of them were sufficient, 13.4% of them were at the excellent level of health literacy. Nursing students who were senior, whose income was more than expense and who have chronic disease were more likely to have adequate health literacy level. More than half of the students' level of health literacy was inadequate and problematic-limited. Academic level, income and having chronic disease were found predictors of health literacy.

The health literacy concept should be included in the nursing curriculum and supported by continuing education programs in order to increase the health literacy levels.