Effectiveness of health literacy interventions on the health outcomes of higher education students

BACKGROUND: Health literacy is relevant to the empowerment process of higher education students. It reduces their vulnerability in health decision making. Higher education institutions are planning, implementing, and evaluating health literacy interventions on a variety of topics and using a variety of methodologies in order to achieve health benefits for their participants. Benefits in disease prevention, health promotion and health care have been associated with health literacy interventions. A review was conducted to identify and synthesise evidence on the effectiveness of health literacy interventions delivered in academic settings on the health outcomes of higher education students. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted with research on the EBSCO Host-Research Databases platform. The methodology followed the PRISMA guidelines, and the protocol was registered with PROSPERO. Methodological appraisal of the studies was carried out according to the Joanna Briggs Institute appraisal tool. A thematic and narrative synthesis was carried out for literature synthesis. RESULTS: This review included 9 articles out of 154 identified. The health gains of health literacy interventions in academic settings were positive changes in mental health; attitudes, norms, and self-efficacy for condom use; emotional, social, and psychological wellbeing; subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, and habitual sleep efficiency; physical activity; and self-reported servings of fried foods. The educational or motivational health literacy interventions contributed to health promotion, disease prevention or healthcare. CONCLUSIONS: The variety of health literacy interventions that are delivered in an academic setting contributes to positive changes in the health outcomes of students in higher education. Investing in the design and delivery of health literacy interventions is one way to reduce their health vulnerability and protect them from the threats. KEY MESSAGES: • When planning health literacy interventions, it is important to know what health benefits they bring. • Health literacy interventions in an academic setting are important for health outcomes.