Kristin Hjorthaug Urstad|Marit Helen Andersen|Marie Hamilton Larsen|Christine Råheim Borge|Sølvi Helseth|Astrid Klopstad Wahl
Definitions and measurement of health literacy in health and medicine research: a systematic review
Faculty of Public Health|VID Specialized University|University of Stavanger|Oslo University Hospital|University of Oslo|University of Oslo|Lovisenberg Diakonale Høgskole|University of Oslo|University of Agder|Metropolitan University|Oslo University Hospital|University of Oslo
objectives way health literacy understood conceptualised closely linked measured operationalised study aimed gain insights health literacy defined measured current health literacy research examine relationship health literacy definitions instruments design systematic review accordance preferred reporting items systematic reviews metaanalyses statement data sources medline psycinfo eric cinahl databases searched articles published two randomly selected months march october 2019 eligibility criteria included articles quantitative design measured health literacy peerreviewed original published english language included study population older 16 years data extraction synthesis six researchers screened articles eligibility extracted data independently health literacy definitions instruments considered relation category 1 describing basic reading writing skills diseasespecific knowledge practical skills category 2 social health literacy competence ability interpret critically assess health information categories inspired nutbeams descriptions different health literacy levels results 120 articles included review 60 within public health 60 within clinical health majority articles n77 used instruments category 1 total 79 studies provided health literacy definition 71 category 2 8 category 1 almost half studies n38 health literacy defined broad perspective category 2 measured narrow focus category 1 conclusion due high degree inconsistency health literacy definitions instruments current health literacy research risk missing important information health literacy considered important initial understanding concept recognised studies prospero registration number crd42020179699