Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to determine hearing-impaired students’ levels of health literacy, problems when they receive healthcare service and their expectations.
Methods
This descriptive study was conducted on 88 hearing-impaired high school students over 15 years of age. The data collection tools used in the study are “Form of Problems Experienced When Receiving Healthcare Service”, “Form of Expectations from Healthcare Service”, and Turkey Health Literacy Scale (THLS-32). The researchers know sign language. The Health Sciences Faculty granted approval for the study (04.12.2017-255). The families were informed of the program through the school administration, and their consent was obtained.
Results
70.5% of the students had inadequate, 19.3% had limited, 2.3% had adequate and 8% had excellent health literacy levels. Those who had communication problems with the doctor (25%), those who misused the prescribed medication (13.6%) and those who could not use the medication without help (43.2%) had low THLS scores (<0.05). Those who stated that they did not understand what the nurses said (43.2%) and the health education materials (56.8%) and those who reported that they were confused when they had more than one appointment (20.5%) had significantly low THLS scores (<0.05). 55.7% of them expected that their prescriptions or care procedures were to be given in writing, and 87.5% expected them to be told in sign language.
Conclusions
Most of of the participants have significantly weaker general health literacy. Students with low THLS scores have less understanding of the given information and have problems with health workers.
Main messages: This can create disparities and inequalities in the use of healthcare services and in the health outcomes.
Key messages
This can create disparities and inequalities in the use of healthcare services. This can create disparities and in the health outcomes.
Health Literacy of Hearing-Impaired High School Students, Some of the Problem, and their Expectations
