The health information is an important factor for improving people's health behaviors. On the other hand, media literacy plays an important role in the search and selection of valid information and resources about health. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the correlation between health literacy and media literacy.
Method
This study was a cross-sectional study. Random cluster sampling was used to select 700 citizens in Kerman, Iran. Health literacy for Iranian adults’ questionnaire and media literacy questionnaire were used to collect the data.
Results
Health literacy of 53.2% of the citizens was insufficient. Media literacy of 38.6% of the citizens was moderate and it was high in 61.3%. A significant positive correlation was found between health literacy and media literacy.
Conclusion
The media literacy was an important determinant factor for health literacy. The development and increase of media literacy can also increase health literacy.
GhanbariSMajlessiFGhaffariM, et al. Evaluation of health literacy of pregnant women in urban health centers of Shahid Beheshti Medical University. Daneshvar Med2012; 19: 1–12.
2.
KhosraviAAhmadzadehK.Investigating health literacy level of patients referred to Bushehr Hospitals and recognizing its effective factors. Iran South Med2016; 18: 1245–1253.
3.
DuongTVAringazinaABaisunovaG, et al. Measuring health literacy in Asia: validation of the HLS-EU-Q47 survey tool in six Asian countries. J Epidemiol2017; 27: 80–86.
Tehrani BS, Amirkhani MA, Alavian SM, et al. Health literacy and the influencing factors: a study in five provinces of Iran. Med Educ Dev Cent2007; 4: 1–9.
6.
TavousiMEbadiMAzinA.Definitions of health literacy: a review of the literature. Iran Inst Heal Sci2014; 5: 124–119.
7.
IzadiradH.The relationship of health literacy with health status, preventive behaviors and health services utilization in Baluchistan, Iran.Educ Community Heal2016; 3: 43–50.
8.
MahmoudiH.Relation between information literacy and health literacy of students in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Hum Inf Interact2016; 2: 31–41.
9.
DuongTVan ChangPWYangS, et al. A new comprehensive short-form health literacy survey tool for patients in general. Asian Nurs Res (Korean Soc Nurs Sci)2017; 11: 30–35.
10.
TehraniH.Media health literacy. Heal Lit2016; 1: 141–146.
11.
SadoughiFAhmadiMGohariMR, et al. Attitude of inpatients about information technologies literacy. Heal Adm2010; 13: 31–40.
12.
JavadzadeSHSharifiradGRadjatiF, et al. Relationship between health literacy, health status, and healthy behaviors among older adults in Isfahan. J Edu Health Promot2012; 1: 31.
13.
Cheshmeh SohrabiM.A comparative study of media literacy: students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences vs. Students of University of Tehran. Glob Media J Persian Ed2012; 7: 27–57.
14.
AkbarinejadFSoleymaniMShahrzadiL.The relationship between media literacy and health literacy among pregnant women in health centers of Isfahan. J Educ Health Promot2017; 6: 17.
15.
SiamakM, Alipour Nodoustan K and Khalighi N. Measurement of the information literacy level in the students of Qom University of Medical Sciences during 2010–2011. Qom Univ Med Sci2013; 7: 23–30.
16.
MontazeriA.Health literacy for Iranian adults (HELIA). PAYESH Dev Psychom Prop2014; 13: 589–599.
17.
FalsafiSNiroomandL. The study of relation between media literacy and life style (a case study):young adult high school students between the age of 15 to 18 years old in 6th district of Tehran. In: First National Conference on Media, Communication and Citizenship Education. [In persian], www.civilica.com/Paper-MCCE01-MCCE01_005.html (2015, accessed 26 October 2020).
18.
ChenYPorterKJEstabrooksPA, et al. The relationship between health literacy and media literacy related to sugar-sweetened beverages. J Nutr Educ Behav2014; 46: S145.
19.
Nekoei-MoghadamMParvaSAmiresmailiM, et al. Health literacy and utilization of health services in Kerman urban area.Toloo-e-Behdasht2011; 11: 123–134.
20.
HosieniFMirzaeiT.The relationship between health literacy and quality of life in retirement of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences. Heal Lit2016; 1: 92–99.
21.
ZarebanIIzadiradH.Evaluation of health literacy, health status and health services utilization in women in Baluchistan region of Iran. Heal Lit2016; 1: 71–82.
22.
GuoJGuoYZhuL, et al. Health literacy of college students in Beijing and the demands of health education. China Popul Dev Stud2020; 4: 213–228.
23.
LindahlBNorbergMJohanssonH, et al. Health literacy is independently and inversely associated with carotid artery plaques and cardiovascular risk. Eur J Prev Cardiol2020; 27: 209–215.
24.
HeinrichC.Health literacy: the sixth vital sign. J Am Acad Nurse Pract2012; 24: 218–223.
25.
LeeS-YDTsaiT-ITsaiY-W, et al. Health literacy, health status, and healthcare utilization of Taiwanese adults: results from a national survey.BMC Public Health2010; 10: 614.
26.
McLeanSAPaxtonSJWertheimEH.The measurement of media literacy in eating disorder risk factor research: psychometric properties of six measures. J Eat Disord2016; 4: 1–12.
27.
Culver SherriHJacobsonT.Media literacy and its method to encourage civic engagement.Comunicar: Revista Científica de Comunicación y Educación2012; 20: 73–80.
28.
PiscinaTRamirez de la BasterretxaJIJimenzE.Report about the media literacy situation in the Basque. School Community2011; XVII: 157–164.
29.
AfshariMKhazaeiSBahramiN, et al. Investigating adult health literacy in Tuyserkan city. Educ Community Heal2014; 1: 48–55.
30.
SarokhaniBKaroubiZ.The process of globalization and its impact on the media role on Iranian culture. The case of Tv. Q Gorn Soc Sci2010; 16: 37–73.
