Table 3 Health literacy score by items and levels
| Â | Health literacy by items | Never | Rarely | Sometimes | Usually | Always |
| Â | No. (%) | No. (%) | No. (%) | No. (%) | No. (%) | |
Reading | Reading educational materials about health (booklets, pamphlets, and leaflets) is easy for me. | 13 (3.1) | 14 (3.3) | 96 (22.8) | 159 (37.8) | 139 (33.0) |
Reading written instructions from doctors, dentists and health workers about my illness is easy for me. | 15 (3.6) | 39 (9.3) | 88 (20.9) | 156 (37.1) | 123 (29.2) | |
Reading medical and dental forms (such as admissions, consent, filing, etc. in hospitals and medical centers) is easy for me. | 14 (3.3) | 38 (9.0) | 98 (23.3) | 143 (34.0) | 128 (30.4) | |
Reading leaflets and instructions for laboratory testing, ultrasound or radiology is easy for me. | 12 (2.9) | 52 (12.4) | 83 (19.7) | 144 (34.2) | 130 (30.9) | |
Access to information | I can find health information from different sources when I need such information. | 25 (5.9) | 44 (10.5) | 132 (31.4) | 142 (33.7) | 78 (18.5) |
I can find health information about healthy eating. | 10 (2.4) | 39 (9.3) | 105 (24.9) | 158 (37.5) | 109 (25.9) | |
I can find health information on mental health such as depression and stress. | 29 (6.9) | 74 (17.6) | 117 (27.8) | 127 (30.2) | 74 (17.6) | |
I can find health information about a specific disease when I need to. | 17 (4.0) | 46 (10.9) | 127 (30.2) | 133 (31.6) | 98 (23.3) | |
I can find health information for some health problems and diseases such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high lipid levels. | 17 (4.0) | 56 (13.3) | 86 (20.4) | 154 (36.6) | 108 (25.7) | |
I can find health information about harmful effects of tobacco and smoking. | 15 (3.6) | 31 (7.4) | 65 (15.4) | 132 (31.4) | 178 (42.3) | |
Understanding | I can understand the recommendations for a healthy diet. | 5 (1.2) | 14 (3.3) | 48 (11.4) | 143 (34.0) | 211 (50.1) |
I can understand when my physician explains about my illness. | 2 (0.5) | 11 (2.6) | 41 (9.7) | 135 (32.1) | 232 (55.1) | |
I can understand the meaning when reading medical forms (such as admissions, consents, filings, etc.) in hospitals and health centers. | 9 (2.1) | 34 (8.1) | 74 (17.6) | 134 (31.8) | 170 (40.4) | |
I can understand signage guidelines in hospitals, clinics and health centers. | 6 (1.4) | 13 (3.1) | 66 (15.7) | 129 (30.6) | 207 (49.2) | |
I can understand drug information on labels. | 7 (1.7) | 22 (5.2) | 33 (7.8) | 109 (25.9) | 250 (59.4) | |
I can understand the risks, and benefits of drugs prescribed by my physician. | 12 (2.9) | 27 (6.4) | 58 (13.8) | 142 (33.7) | 182 (43.2) | |
I can understand written information before testing, ultrasound or radiology. | 33 (7.8) | 44 (10.5) | 80 (19.0) | 134 (31.8) | 130 (30.9) | |
Appraisal | I can evaluate health-related information on the Internet. | 56 (13.3) | 79 (18.8) | 119 (28.3) | 102 (24.2) | 65 (15.4) |
I can evaluate health-related information broadcast on television and radio. | 11 (2.6) | 45 (10.7) | 108 (25.7) | 161 (38.2) | 96 (22.8) | |
I can assess the accuracy of health-related recommendations I receive from relatives and friends. | 15 (3.6) | 54 (12.8) | 110 (26.1) | 138 (32.8) | 104 (24.7) | |
I can communicate trusted health information to others | 14 (3.3) | 26 (6.2) | 92 (21.9) | 128 (30.4) | 161 (38.2) | |
Decision-making/ behavioral intention | When facing an illness, I know where to go or with who me to speak. | 6 (1.4) | 40 (9.5) | 85 (20.2) | 133 (31.6) | 157 (37.3) |
When physician suggests that I should take antibiotic capsules three times a day I know that I should take one tablet every 8 h. | 6 (1.4) | 19 (4.5) | 46 (10.9) | 124 (29.5) | 226 (53.7) | |
I do not cut my medications without my physician’s permission, even if symptoms disappear. | 13 (3.1) | 33 (7.8) | 84 (20.0) | 121 (28.7) | 170 (40.4) | |
If anyone from my first-degree relatives develops cancer (such as prostate, breast, cervix, colon, etc.), I see a doctor to examine me. | 28 (6.7) | 80 (19.0) | 72 (17.1) | 102 (24.2) | 139 (33.0) | |
I avoid doing or eating things that increase my blood pressure. | 13 (3.1) | 43 (10.2) | 98 (23.3) | 265 (62.9) | 2 (0.5) | |
I visit my physician for regular checkups. | 61 (14.5) | 101 (24.0) | 94 (22.3) | 74 (17.6) | 91 (21.6) | |
I am health-conscious in any situation. | 6 (1.4) | 33 (7.8) | 100 (23.8) | 160 (38.0) | 122 (29.0) | |
If needed, I ask my physician or health care team questions about my disease. | 11 (2.6) | 59 (14.0) | 78 (18.5) | 145 (34.4) | 128 (30.4) | |
I buy dairy products (milk, yoghurt, cheese, etc.) according to their fat percentage. | 13 (3.1) | 59 (14.0) | 76 (18.1) | 129 (30.6) | 144 (34.2) | |
I avoid using substances that increase my weight. | 74 (17.6) | 85 (20.2) | 130 (30.9) | 132 (31.4) | 0 (0.0) | |
I use a seat belt when driving. | 6 (1.4) | 23 (5.5) | 52 (12.4) | 105 (24.9) | 235 (55.8) | |
I consider the food labels when shopping | 9 (2.1) | 36 (8.6) | 86 (20.4) | 144 (34.2) | 146 (34.7) | |
| Â | Health literacy by dimensions | Total | Inadequate | Problematic | Sufficient | Excellent |
| Â | Â | Mean (SD) | No. (%) | No. (%) | No. (%) | No. (%) |
| Â | Reading | 66.08 (21.51) | 115 (27.3) | 72 (17.1) | 154 (36.6) | 80 (19.0) |
| Â | Access to information | 78.65 (18.33) | 38 (9.0) | 55 (13.1) | 135 (32.1) | 193 (45.8) |
| Â | Understanding | 64.62 (12.51) | 124 (29.5) | 85 (20.2) | 134 (31.8) | 78 (18.5) |
| Â | Appraisal | 68.07 (17.04) | 73 (17.3) | 93 (22.1) | 179 (42.5) | 76 (18.1) |
| Â | Decision making | 69.85 (15.27) | 42 (10.0) | 119 (28.3) | 182 (43.2) | 78 (18.5) |
| Â | Total score | 70.65 (22.20) | 92 (21.9) | 69 (16.4) | 136 (32.3) | 124 (29.5) |