Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Sağlık Okuryazarlığı

This research was conducted based on a descriptive/cross-sectional research design to determine the health literacy levels of university students, for which a case study was made of students who applied for the first time to the Health Center of the Eastern Mediterranean University between May 1 and July 31, 2017. Rather than selecting samples, the study was conducted on the universe, resulting in a total of 365 eligible students who volunteered to participate in the research. For the study, data was collected using the "Identifıcation Information Form" and the "Adult Health Literacy Scale", and percentages, a Mann-Whitney U-test and a Kuruskal-Wallis H-test were used in the statistical analysis of the data. Of the university students, 44.9 percent are aged 21–23, and 50.7 percent are female and 49.3 percent are male. In addition, 20.0 percent of the students are studying in the faculty of education, 97.8 percent are undergraduate students and 26.1 percent are in the fourth grade. Of the university students who participated in the survey, 50.7 percent had lived in cities for a major part of their lives and 42.2 percent are currently living with friends. Furthermore, 50.7 percent of the students are smokers, and of these, 58.9 percent (n = 185) smoke one pack of cigarettes a day. Again, 51.5 percent of the university students drink alcohol, and 37.8 percent of these (n = 188) consume one glass of alcohol a day. Finally, 51.8 percent of the students state that they are in good health. It was found that age, gender, department, grade and the daily alcohol consumption were influential on the students’ health literacy level (p <.05). The results of the study show that for a high level of health literacy, it is important that health education starts in the family and continues in the pre-school period; that it is covered in the textbooks used in primary education; and that conferences, seminars and scientific activities on health information are organized at universities in certain periods with the participation of all students. It may be beneficial to identify the variables affecting health literacy in individuals so that plans can be made taking these variables into account, and to develop policies to improve health literacy. Keywords: Nursing, University students, Health literacy