Health literacy statuses of science teacher candidates

Education is the most decisive factor for being literate which seems to be the essential skill for individuals today. As a type of literacy, health literacy essentially comprise of literate knowledge, skill and experience. Therefore, only an effective education will make possible to raise health literate individuals. The science education courses at primary schools are the first step through the health literacy and the terms about health. For this reason, the ideas and mindfulness of science teachers and candidates about health and health literacy have become important. This study is aimed to determine the health literacy statuses and their awareness about health. In this qualitative research, case study and embedded single study case design were used. The 12 voluntary participants were chosen from the attendees of Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Faculty of Education, Department of Science Education in the Spring Term of 2020. Criteria sampling from purposive sampling types was applied for choosing the participants between 3rd and 4th grade students. A semi-structured interview form was prepared and applied according to the health literacy identifications, classifications and factors that affect health to establish the ideas and level of awareness of teacher candidates. The data were processed by content analysis. According to the data obtained; science teacher candidates were aware of the relation between the conscious nutrition and health. They were also aware of using medication responsibly. Interviewers mostly stated the name of the clinic correctly in case of various illnesses. Their self-efficacy in understanding the medical tests were moderate as they implied. It was concluded that the candidates had a high awareness of benefiting from health services, they were aware of the importance of first aid for human life, and they shared a common view that the science course would have a positive effect on the development of health literacy.