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Health literacy in college students
Melinda J Ickes1, Randall Cottrell
1Department of Health Promotion and Education, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45209, USA. ickesmj@uc.edu
Journal of American College Health : J of ACH
|March 23, 2010
Summary
College students demonstrated adequate health literacy (TOFHLA score 93.83) and recognized its importance. However, challenges with numeracy questions indicate areas for improvement in health education.
Area of Science:
- Health Sciences
- Medical Education
- Public Health
Background:
- Health literacy is crucial for navigating healthcare systems.
- Assessing health literacy in university students is important for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the health literacy levels of college students.
- To determine the perceived importance of health literacy among this demographic.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 399 undergraduate students participated.
- The Test of Functional Health Literacy (TOFHLA) assessed numeracy and reading comprehension using healthcare materials.
Main Results:
- The average health literacy score was 93.83, indicating adequate functional health literacy.
- A significant majority (89.3%) of students valued health literacy.
Conclusions:
- University students generally possess sufficient health literacy to engage with healthcare.
- Specific challenges, particularly with numeracy tasks, were identified, suggesting a need for enhanced health education.
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