Do health literacy levels of nursing students change throughout the study programme? A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this research was to analyse if the level of health literacy (HL) of nursing students changes throughout the study programme. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study with anonymous self-reporting was conducted. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: 329 public university nursing students in Seville, Spain; 243 of the first year and 86 of the fourth. INTERVENTIONS: The short Spanish version of the Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire-European Union was used to evaluate HL. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The proportions of the limited level of HL were compared between academic years and the crude and corrected OR were calculated with the Mantel-Haenszel test to evaluate the effect of confusion of the sex variable on the HL level and academic year relationship. A logistic regression model with step-by-step analysis was run, including the independent variables sex, age, marital status, academic year and HL level (limited/sufficient) as the dependent variable. RESULTS: 62.1% of the participants of the first year versus 47.7% of the fourth year had a limited literacy level for a crude OR of 1.5 (95% CI 1.10 to 2.21; p=0.014) and a corrected by sex OR of 1.8 (95% CI 1.10 to 2.96; p=0.026). Only the strata in women had a statistically significant relationship. The logistic regression model ratified that the HL was a function exclusive to the academic year. CONCLUSION: The HL level of nursing students increases from the first to the fourth academic year, even when controlling for sex. Although the HL level in the fourth academic year was greater than that of the first, both groups had inadequate HL levels. It is hence recommended to implement intervention strategies, which reinforce in the curriculum the knowledge and experiences related with health communication and education to ensure that future professionals improve their HL. Achieving adequate HL is crucial to be able to provide care to patients, their families and the community.