Investigating the effect of education on health literacy and its relation to health-promoting behaviors in health center

BACKGROUND: Health literacy is a combination of reading and listening skills, data analysis, decision-making, and the ability to implement these skills during the necessary health situations. This study was conducted with the purpose of determining the effect of educational intervention on health literacy and its impact on health-promoting behaviors of the health ambassadors in the health and treatment centers of the health network in Kazeroon (Fars province, Iran). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study is a quasi-experimental study using before-after test procedure on 256 health ambassadors. Random systematic sampling method was used and to assess the health literacy, Montazeri's health questionnaire was used, also the standard questionnaire (health-promoting lifestyle profile-I) was applied to determine the status of the health-promoting behaviors. Two questionnaires were filled out by the health ambassadors before and following the intervention. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software 22, through t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation. RESULTS: The mean health literacy scores of the ambassadors before educational intervention were 79.22 which increased to 95.49 after intervention. Moreover, the results of the study showed a direct significant correlation of health literacy with all the dimensions of health-promoting behavior questionnaire before and after the intervention (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Educational interventions can be used to enhance the health literacy of health ambassadors and have a significant impact on improving health-promoting behaviors.