Health Literacy Level of Adults Referring to Public Libraries Covered by the Institution of Public Libraries of the Country

Introduction: Health literacy is a personal and social capacity for accessing, understanding, evaluating information and health services and their optimal utilization for health promotion. Public libraries are one of the ways which make the information accessible to the public. Given the importance of public libraries in providing people with access to information such as health information, in this research, we investigated the health literacy level of people aged 18-60 years old who referred to libraries covered by the public libraries of Sanandaj city. Methods: This study is a descriptive and applied survey. The research tool was an Iranian Health Literacy Questionnaire (IHLQ). According to the referrals to the libraries covered by the public libraries of Sanandaj city, the sample size was determined by clustering method to be 295 people. Questionnaires were completed in autumn and winter of 2016 by individuals aged 18-60 years old who referred to libraries covered by public libraries of Sanandaj. Data were analyzed through SPSS23.0 software, using One-way ANOVA and independent t-test. The final score of health literacy was calculated on a scale of 0 to 20, so that a score of less than 10 indicates “weak”, a score of 14-10 shows “moderate”, and those more than 14 indicates “sufficient” health literacy level. Results: A significant relationship was found in the level of health literacy with age (P=0.002) and occupation (P<0.001), but there was no significant relationship between health literacy level and education level and gender. The mean of health literacy in the subcomponent of “knowledge” with the score of 14.91±1.05 was highest and “getting health information” with a score of 7.26±0.31 and after that “reading” with a score of 8.48±0.52 were the lowest values. The findings of the study showed that 25.8% (76 people) had sufficient health literacy, 49.5% (146) had moderate health literacy, and 24.7% (73) had weak health literacy. Therefore, the level of health literacy among people aged 18-60 years old in the libraries covered by the public libraries of the city of Sanandaj was “moderate.» Conclusion: The level of health literacy among people aged 18-60 years old in the libraries covered by the public libraries of the city of Sanandaj was “moderate”. Regarding the average health literacy level of the studied community, it seems that the provision of health-related content by the public libraries institution and the health care centers is effective in improving the health literacy level of the general population

Assessment Of Health Literacy Level In 18-30 Year-Old Adults, An Iranian Experience

Objective: Health literacy is knowledge for comprehension, assessment and achievement of health and benefit of it in life finally to health promotion. People, who have little health literacy, have less knowledge about their health condition therefore they don’t take sufficient preventive services instead they receive more hospital and emergency units\u27 services. Identification and promotion of health literacy level is one of the best solutions to increase social health and play important role in making healthy social in future, too. Design and setting: This descriptive study, about 170 people (ranging from18-30 year-old) who referred to Shemiranat health network in end of June till mid-August 2016. Health literacy data were collected through standard questionnaire that its validity and reliability was proven by Montazeri et al study (2014). Data were analyzed by SPSS ver.21 software and statistical analyses such as independent T-test, ANOVA were used. Findings: The results showed that internet was the most common way to access information about health (40.4%) and infrequent information source was IVR (1.4%). The mean of health literacy level was estimated as marginal health literacy. There was statistical significant relationship between health literacy level and source of information, age and education level but there was no statistical significant relationship between health literacy level and job and gender. Conclusion: Thus public awareness and constructing web sites related to health by Health Networks and administrate them will effect on people health promotion. Keywords: Health Literacy, Shemiranat Health Network, Tehran

Mapping and Analyzing the Co-authorship and Thematic Networks of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences in the Science Citation Database from 2011-2016

Abstract Background: Considering the importance of co-authorship and thematic networks in expanding specialization and improving the quality of scientific works, the purpose of this research is to map and analyze the co-authorship and thematic networks of the Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences in the Science Citation Database between years 2011-2016. Method: Research society of scientific publications in Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, indexed in the science citation database between years 2011-2016. In order to analyze the data, Excel and HistCite software, and to map the networks and analyze them the Citespace and Gephi software were used. Findings: The number of scientific publications of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences during the studied years is 518 papers with 4914 citations. The average number of citations for each paper was 9 and the dominant co-authorship pattern in these years is a five-author pattern. The collaboration index for the years under examination is 5.66, the degree of collaboration is 0.99 and the collaboration coefficient is 0.98. The researchers\u27 desire to create a co-authorship network between years 2011-2016 has increased and the largest international collaboration of university researchers was with Canada. In the mapping thematic network, among the subjects under the study of the university, environmental health, public and professional, the highest degree of centrality, and pharmacy and pharmacology had the highest betweeness centrality. Conclusion: Considering the high level of collaboration and co-authorship between researchers of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, it is recommended to create the essential ground for initiating and consolidating international and national collaboration and setting up scientific and expert colleague groups. Keywords: Scientific Collaboration, Co-authorship Network, Kurdistan University of Medical Science

Assessment Of Health Literacy Level In 18-30 Year-Old Adults, An Iranian Experience

Objective: Health literacy is knowledge for comprehension, assessment and achievement of health and benefit of it in life finally to health promotion. People, who have little health literacy, have less knowledge about their health condition therefore they don’t take sufficient preventive services instead they receive more hospital and emergency units\u27 services. Identification and promotion of health literacy level is one of the best solutions to increase social health and play important role in making healthy social in future, too. Design and setting: This descriptive study, about 170 people (ranging from18-30 year-old) who referred to Shemiranat health network in end of June till mid-August 2016. Health literacy data were collected through standard questionnaire that its validity and reliability was proven by Montazeri et al study (2014). Data were analyzed by SPSS ver.21 software and statistical analyses such as independent T-test, ANOVA were used. Findings: The results showed that internet was the most common way to access information about health (40.4%) and infrequent information source was IVR (1.4%). The mean of health literacy level was estimated as marginal health literacy. There was statistical significant relationship between health literacy level and source of information, age and education level but there was no statistical significant relationship between health literacy level and job and gender. Conclusion: Thus public awareness and constructing web sites related to health by Health Networks and administrate them will effect on people health promotion. Keywords: Health Literacy, Shemiranat Health Network, Tehran