Health literacy of nursing students at Boromarajonani College of Nursing, Chonburi

Abstract

This descriptive study was conducted to investigate health literacy of the nursing students at Boromarajonani College of Nursing, Chonburi and to compare the health literacy scores of students from different academic years. The sample was composed of 460 students undertaking baccalaureate nursing program Years 1- 4 of academic year 2016 at Boromarajonani College of Nursing, Chonburi. The self-administered questionnaire with 47 items asking about health literacy developed by the researchers was used for data collection. The data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and Kruskal-Wallis test.

The results showed that the mean scores of health literacy regarding health care, disease prevention, and health promotion of the nursing students at Boromarajonani College of Nursing Chonburi were in a high level ( = 4.02, SD = 0.51) with the highest mean score of health promotion ( = 4.09, SD = 0.54) and the lowest mean score of health care ( = 3.92, SD = 0.48). The senior students had highest mean score of health literacy followed by the juniors, sophomores, and freshmen, ( = 4.14, SD = 0.45;  = 4.03, SD = 0.56;  = 4.01, SD = 0.38;  = 3.97, SD = 0.44, respectively). The lowest mean score of each year students fell in the health care category. There was no statistically significant difference among health literacy scores of students from different years. It was noted that the lowest mean scores of health literacy of the students in all levels of academic years was the health care category. This category is the foundation that health care providers need. Therefore, nursing institutions should develop strategies to increase the health literacy regarding health care aspect of the nursing students.