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Determinants and Consequences of Limited Health Literacy in Polish Society

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  • Mariusz Duplaga

    (Department of Health Promotion and e-Health, Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Grzegorzecka Str. 20, 31-531 Krakow, Poland)

Abstract

Background: Health literacy (HL) is perceived as one of the most important concepts for modern health promotion activities to be successful. The research undertaken in the context of HL usually focuses on its antecedents and consequences, either for specific groups of patients or society or for the whole population. Objectives: The main aim of this study was to assess the antecedents and consequences of limited health literacy (HL) in a nationally representative sample of the Polish population. Methods: The analysis was carried out on the data obtained from a sample of 1000 Polish citizens through a telephone-based survey undertaken using a short, 16-item questionnaire developed within the European Health Literacy Project (HLS-EU). The total HLS score was calculated according to the guidelines published by the HLS-EU project. Chi2 test and logistic regression models were used for the analysis of the relationships between the variables. Results: The mean HL score (standard deviation) in the study sample was 12.99 (3.11). HL was related to age, marital and vocational status. Limited HL was associated with a lower self-assessment of health (OR, 95% CI: 2.52, 1.54–4.13), the prevalence of obesity and disability (1.71, 1.13–2.57, and 1.92, 1.25–2.94, respectively), less frequent physical activity (0.70, 0.49–0.99), a lower consumption of fruits and vegetables (0.47, 0.34–0.65), and with more frequent hospitalisations (2.02, 1.38–2.95). Conclusions: The assessment of HL using the16-item HLS-EU questionnaire may be a useful tool to enable health behaviours and utilisation of health care resources by society to be predicted.

Suggested Citation

  • Mariusz Duplaga, 2020. "Determinants and Consequences of Limited Health Literacy in Polish Society," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-13, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:2:p:642-:d:310593
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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.
    2. Mariusz Duplaga & Karolina Sobecka & Sylwia Wójcik, 2019. "The Reliability and Validity of the Telephone-Based and Online Polish eHealth Literacy Scale Based on Two Nationally Representative Samples," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-12, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ágnes Sántha, 2021. "The Sociodemographic Determinants of Health Literacy in the Ethnic Hungarian Mothers of Young Children in Eastern Europe," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-15, May.
    2. Ewelina Chawłowska & Monika Karasiewicz & Agnieszka Lipiak & Rafał Staszewski & Mateusz Cofta & Maria Biskupska & Bogusz Giernaś & Agnieszka Zawiejska, 2022. "Oral Health Behaviours, Knowledge, and Literacy of Expectant Mothers: A Cross-Sectional Study among Maternity Ward Patients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-16, September.
    3. Mariusz Duplaga & Marcin Grysztar, 2021. "Socio-Economic Determinants of Health Literacy in High School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-17, November.
    4. Mariusz Duplaga, 2020. "The Acceptance of Key Public Health Interventions by the Polish Population Is Related to Health Literacy, But Not eHealth Literacy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-19, July.
    5. Mariusz Duplaga, 2020. "The Determinants of Conspiracy Beliefs Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Nationally Representative Sample of Internet Users," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-15, October.
    6. Mariusz Duplaga, 2020. "The Use of Fitness Influencers’ Websites by Young Adult Women: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-19, September.

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