["So that each patient may comprehend": measuring health literacy in Hungary]

The efficiency of healing is determined by the ability of the patients to comprehend and to apply properly the information provided by the doctors. This ability is influenced by age, intelligence and social background, but above all by health literacy.

The aim of the present study was to translate and adapt the Hungarian version of the Short-Test of Functional Health Literacy, which is a performance based measure and the perception-based Chew screening questions for health literacy in Hungary.

The sample consisted of 302 people, and it was closely representative for the Hungarian population.

The reliability of the reading part of the Short-Test of Functional Health Literacy was excellent, and it was also acceptable regarding the Chew screening questions, but it showed low internal consistency concerning the numeracy part of the Short-Test of Functional Health Literacy. Based on the Short-Test of Functional Health Literacy reading scores, participants were categorized into three groups: 8% had inadequate, 6% marginal and 86% adequate health literacy levels. Regarding participants without a chronic illness tended to possess higher health literacy levels based on all the three measurments.

The availability of these measures of health literacy in Hungary can play a crucial role in doctor-patient communication as well as health promotion, that can contribute to develop health literacy policies leading to reduced health care costs in the future.