JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Health literacy of nursing students is important so that tomorrow’s nursing professional deliver high quality healthcare and enhance patient education and communication.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to assess the HL level of nursing students in order to shed light on this under-researched topic in Albanian settings.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study involving 193 nursing students of various study branches was carried out during 22-29 June 2022, in the premises of the Nursing Faculty, in Tirana, Albania. The international HL-EU-Q standardized questionnaire, validated in Albanian language, was used to collect information about nursing students’ general HL through a face-to-face interview. Basic socio-demographic information was collected as well. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the factors associated with inadequate/problematic (limited) HL.

Results:

The mean level of general HL was 37.2 (on a scale form 0 - minimum HL to 50 – maximal HL). About one quarter of nursing students had inadequate (4.7%) or problematic (19.7%) HL. The prevalence of limited HL was higher among male students, and those with lower social and economic status. The only factor significantly increasing the likelihood of limited health literacy was male gender (OR=8.13, 95%CI:1. 68-39.39). Findings suggested that low social and economic status also increase the likelihood of limited HL, but such associations did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of limited HL was relatively high among nursing students. There is need for target interventions to increase the HL of nursing students, such as the inclusion of HL subject in nursing curriculum. Clinical Trial: N/A