Štruktúra zdravotnej gramotnosti u adolescentov [The structure of health literacy in adolescents]

Abstract

Objectives: The current study dealt with the concept of health literacy in adolescents. The main aim of the study was to examine the structure of adolescents, health literacy. The aim was also to discuss the current need and potential for the development of adolescents, health literacy in educational setting. - Sample and settings: The sample comprised 290 participants from four Slovak elementary schools. The participants were in the 7th and 9th grade. Adolescents, health literacy was measured using HLSAC with additional items approved by the HBSC expert group (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children). Hypothesis. The authors assumed that in the given population, health literacy falls along 5 theory-based distinct dimensions. - Statistical analysis: Confirmatory factor analy- sis explicitly modeling the ordered categorical nature of the data was carried out. - Results: As opposed to the hypothesized 5-factor structure, unequivocally collinear relationships between the proposed factors strongly suggested that health literacy is unitary in the given population. An overall sum score can thus be regarded an internally consistent proxy for the underlying construct. - Study limitations: Cluster sampling. Sample size not allowing for the comparison of the latent structure across levels of age and gender.