The effect of health literacy on COVID-19 vaccine literacy: An application on patients admitted to the family health center

The main purpose of this research is to determine the effect of health literacy level on COVID-19 vaccine literacy. The universe of the research; It consists of patients over the age of 18 and their relatives who applied to Bursa Panayır Family Health Center in February-March 2022. Convenience sampling method was used in the research. In the research; descriptive statistics, explanatory factor analysis, difference tests, path analysis techniques were used. Data obtained from a total of 410 individuals were evaluated with IBM SPSS Statistic Base 23V and AMOS package programs. The Cronbach Alpha coefficients of 44 questions in total were found to be 0.945, 0.833, 0.936, respectively, with the scales of "Turkey Health Literacy" (32) and "COVID-19 Vaccine Literacy" (12), which constitute the variables of the study. As a result of the explanatory factor analysis applied for the health literacy scale, 6 factors representing 61,868% of the total variance were found. As a result of the explanatory factor analysis of the COVID-19 vaccine literacy scale, 2 factors representing 56,784% of the total variance were reached. Regarding the factors obtained with health literacy and COVID-19 vaccine literacy scales; "Independent Samples T-Test" and "One-Way ANOVA" tests were performed. As a result of the independent samples t-test, a significant difference was reached in some categories of the variables made between the marital status of the participants, the environmental advice of the participants and the use of drugs, the regular use of the drugs prescribed by the physicians of the participants and the scale factors. T-test was performed between the scale factors with gender, having any health problems and having any chronic disease variables, but no significant difference was found in all categories of gender, having any health problem and having any chronic disease. As a result of the ANOVA test conducted between the participants' occupational group, the status of the first resort when the participants had a health problem, the education group variables of the participants and the scale factors, it was found that there was a statistically significant difference in some categories of these variables. ANOVA test was performed between age and income level variables and scale factors, but no significant difference was determined in all categories of age and income level variables. According to the path analysis results of the research; The treatment and service level of the participants; The communicative skills feature, which is the COVID-19 vaccine literacy factor, is significantly and positively; On the other hand, it was determined that functional skills characteristics did not affect positively and statistically significantly. Participants' level of disease prevention and health promotion; The communicative skills feature, which is the COVID-19 vaccine literacy factor, is significantly and positively; On the other hand, it was determined that functional skills characteristics did not affect positively and statistically significantly. Participants' level of access to health-related information; The communicative skills feature, which is the COVID-19 vaccine literacy factor, is significantly and positively; it has been determined that functional skills feature has a significant and negative effect. Participants' level of understanding of health-related information; The communicative skills feature, which is the COVID-19 vaccine literacy factor, is significantly and positively; it was determined that functional skills characteristics were not at a significant level and had a negative effect. Participants' level of evaluation of health-related knowledge; Significantly and positively, the communicative skills feature, which is the COVID-19 vaccine literacy factor; It has been determined that the functional skills feature is not at a significant level and has a positive effect. Participants' level of evaluation/use of health-related information; Significantly and positively, the communicative skills feature, which is the COVID-19 vaccine literacy factor; It has been determined that the functional skills feature is not at a significant level and has a negative effect. Keywords: Health Literacy, COVID-19, COVID-19 Vaccine Literacy