Investigating and Prioritizing Factors Affecting Health Literacy in University Students of Yazd Using Artificial Neural Network Technique

Abstract

Introduction: Current university students are potential and actual parents of future generations. The level of their health literacy affects health and health literacy level of future generations. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was investigating and prioritizing the factors affecting the health literacy of students in Yazd (a city in central Iran) using an artificial neural network technique.
 Methods: This study was cross-sectional and descriptive and it was conducted on 400 university students in Yazd during autumn 2018. Data were collected using a questionnaire on health literacy and 14 independent variables. Data were analyzed with SPSS software via descriptive statistics, one sample T-test, and artificial neural network.
 Results: The mean of students' health literacy was 80.65±12.21. The most important factors affecting the level of students' health literacy were the grade, college, father's education level, age, and residence.
 Conclusion: Since grade had the greatest impact on health literacy of students, it is suggested that university officials consider the campus to hold classes, lectures, workshops and distribute appropriate resources such as brochures, booklets among students and also provide health information stations at locations such as dining room, university entrance, and dormitory to promote students' health literacy in lower grades

Health Literacy and Its Related Factors in Non-Medical College Students

“…In the present study, although the relationship between age and health literacy was not statistically significant, the results showed that with increasing age, the desirability of health literacy in students increases. In a study conducted on students in Yazd City, Iran the results showed the variables of age and educational level as factors affecting health literacy [22]. The results of a study on the students of Farhangian University also showed that the level of health literacy increases with the older age [17].…”

A Fuzzy MCDM Approach for Structured Comparison of the Health Literacy Level of Hospitals

“…The first type is focused on measuring the level of adherence to literacy practices according to specific factors for the purpose of identifying and improving weaknesses in a specific healthcare institution [43] or in a group of institutions [44][45][46]. The second type is focused on measuring the relative importance of the areas and indicators of applying literacy practices for the purpose of determining the most important or most appropriate factors for the institution or a specific health sector [47]. However, there is an applied research gap around the third and fourth types.…”