A survey on health literacy of inpatient's educational hospitals of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2012

BACKGROUND: Health literacy is an individual's need in each Society. Health literacy is a set of skills in reading, listening, analysis, decision making and the ability to apply these skills to health situations. The purpose of this study was to assess health literacy level in Inpatients of educational Hospitals of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2012. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A navigational and analytical- applied survey of 384 Inpatients was conducted in educational hospitals of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Health literacy was measured by the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA). Reliability of Questionnaire was obtained through Cronbach's alpha and it was 0/89 and its validity was confirmed by experts. The data were collected in clinical inquiry and were analyzed using SPSS (as Descriptive was Frequency distribution, mean, standard deviation and as analytical was Independent T-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation test and Spearman correlation test). FINDINGS: Results showed that the average of Health literacy scores in Inpatients was 35/31 in Numeracy test and 31/94 in Reading Comprehension test. The mean total score of health literacy was 29/63. Thus, the Most of these Inpatients were found to have inadequate health literacy. No significant association was found between health literacy level and gender, income, Occupation and residence. Health literacy was associated with age, marriage status and education. CONCLUSION: The results showed that most of Inpatients in of educational Hospitals of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences were marginal and inadequate health literacy. Therefore, they need to more help and details to understand and use health information.