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The Antecedents and Consequences of Health Literacy in an Ecological Perspective: Results from an Experimental Analysis

Author

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  • Chiara Lorini

    (Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Viale GB Morgagni 48, 50134 Firenze, Italy)

  • Francesca Ierardi

    (Quality and Equity Unit, Regional Health Agency of Tuscany, 50141 Florence, Italy)

  • Letizia Bachini

    (Quality and Equity Unit, Regional Health Agency of Tuscany, 50141 Florence, Italy)

  • Martina Donzellini

    (School of Specialization in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Fabrizio Gemmi

    (Quality and Equity Unit, Regional Health Agency of Tuscany, 50141 Florence, Italy)

  • Guglielmo Bonaccorsi

    (Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Viale GB Morgagni 48, 50134 Firenze, Italy)

Abstract

This study analyses the relationship between the antecedents and consequences of health literacy (HL) at the ecological level among the nations involved in the European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU). The antecedents and consequences were investigated by means of proxy indicators. The HL was measured using the 47-item HLS-EU questionnaire (HLS-EUQ47) and the Newest Vital Sign (NVS). The two measures stood in significant correlation to the outcomes of the sub-discipline of the Euro Health Consumer Index (r = 0.790 for HLS-EUQ47; r = 0.789 for NVS). The HLS-EUQ47 also stood in correlation to the percentage of population with post-secondary education (r = 0.810), the reading performance for 15-year-old students (r = 0.905), the presence of a national screening program for breast (r = 0.732) or cervical cancer (r = 0.873). The NVS stood in correlation with the unemployment rate (r = −0.778), the Gross Domestic Product (r = 0.719), the Gini coefficient (r = −0.743), the rank of the Euro Patient Empowerment Index (r = −0.826), the expenditure on social protection (r = 0.814), the Consumer Empowerment Index (r = 0.898), the percentage of adults using the internet for seeking health information (r = 0.759), the prevalence of overweight individuals (r = −0.843), the health expenditure (r = 0.766), as well as the percentage of individuals using the internet for interacting with public authorities (r = 0.755). This study provides some preliminary considerations regarding alternative means by which to study HL and proposes new methods for experimentation. The methods and the results could offer a means by which the relationship between society and overall healthcare protection could be strengthened.

Suggested Citation

  • Chiara Lorini & Francesca Ierardi & Letizia Bachini & Martina Donzellini & Fabrizio Gemmi & Guglielmo Bonaccorsi, 2018. "The Antecedents and Consequences of Health Literacy in an Ecological Perspective: Results from an Experimental Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:4:p:798-:d:142018
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Giuseppe Torre & Daniele Mipatrini, 2016. "Country-level correlates of e-cigarette use in the European Union," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 61(2), pages 269-275, March.
    2. Wolf, Achim & Gray, Ron & Fazel, Seena, 2014. "Violence as a public health problem: An ecological study of 169 countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 220-227.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mariusz Duplaga, 2020. "Determinants and Consequences of Limited Health Literacy in Polish Society," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-13, January.
    2. Don Nutbeam & Diane Levin-Zamir & Gill Rowlands, 2018. "Health Literacy in Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-3, November.
    3. Chiara Lorini & Saverio Caini & Francesca Ierardi & Letizia Bachini & Fabrizio Gemmi & Guglielmo Bonaccorsi, 2020. "Health Literacy as a Shared Capacity: Does the Health Literacy of a Country Influence the Health Disparities among Immigrants?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-20, February.
    4. Liesbeth de Wit & Pania Karnaki & Archontoula Dalma & Peter Csizmadia & Charlotte Salter & Andrea de Winter & Louise Meijering, 2020. "Health Literacy in the Everyday Lives of Older Adults in Greece, Hungary, and the Netherlands," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-16, April.

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