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Table 2 Distribution of answers to the HLS-EU-Q16 items

From: Making Europe health literate: including older adults in sparsely populated Arctic areas

Item

Domain*

n

Easy

n (%)

Difficult

n (%)

Missing

n (%)

1. find information about treatments for illnesses that concern you?

HC

170

148 (87)

22 (13)

5 (3)

2. find out where to get professional help when you are ill?

HC

174

163 (93)

11 (7)

1 (0.5)

3. understand what your doctor says to you?

HC

175

170 (97)

5 (3)

0 (0)

4. understand your doctor´s or pharmacist’s instructions on how to take a prescribed medicine?

HC

174

171 (98)

3 (2)

1 (0.5)

5. judge when you may need to get a second opinion from another doctor?

HC

157

127 (80)

30 (20)

18 (10)

6. use information the doctor gives you to make decisions about your illness?

HC

168

163 (97)

5 (3)

7 (4)

7. follow instructions from your doctor?

HC

174

169 (97)

5(3)

1 (0,5)

8. find information about how to manage mental health problems like stress or depression?

DP

145

110 (76)

35 (24)

30 (17)

9. understand health warnings about behaviour such as smoking, low physical activity and drinking too much?

DP

174

168 (96)

6 (4)

1 (0.5)

10. understand why you need health screenings?

DP

175

171 (98)

4 (2)

0 (0)

11. judge if the information about health risks in the media is reliable?

DP

171

73 (43)

98 (57)

4 (2)

12. decide how can protect yourself from illness based on information in the media?

DP

168

62 (37)

106 (63)

7 (4)

13. find out about activities that are good for your mental well-being?

HP

172

146 (85)

26 (15)

3 (1,5)

14. understand advice on health from family members or friends?

HP

171

144 (84)

27 (16)

4 (2)

15. understand information in the media about how to get healthier?

HP

172

87 (51)

85 (49)

3 (1,5)

16. judge which everyday behaviour is related to your health?

HP

175

162 (93)

12 (7)

0 (0)

  1. Domain*: HC Health care, DP Disease prevention, HP Health promotion