Psychometric properties of health literacy measure for adolescents (HELMA) and predictors of health literacy among youth from Malaysia and Sri Lanka

Authors

  • Asha Vashe Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education
  • Varalakshmi Chandra Sekaran Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus), Manipal Academy of Higher Education
  • Diya Gobindram Chandnani Manipal University College Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0318-0970
  • Noor Aisyah binti Anwar Batcha 4th year MBBS student, Manipal University College Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1770-6918
  • Kasveny Moganadass 4th year MBBS student, Manipal University College Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1891-2414
  • Saranya Saghadevan 4th year MBBS student, Manipal University College Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7227-5965

Keywords:

Health literacy, youth, medical students, HELMA

Abstract

Health literacy is critical for individual empowerment because it affects how people obtain health information and use it in ways that benefit their health. Healthcare practitioners frequently lack adequate training in health literacy principles. The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Health Literacy Measure for Adolescents (HELMA) instrument to assess health literacy and the predictors of health literacy among youth from Malaysia and Sri Lanka studying at a medical institution. Following ethics clearance, students aged between 18–24 years enrolled in semesters I through V were approached. Following informed consent, using
convenience sampling/complete enumeration, i.e., all students were invited to participate. Overall, 315 participants provided complete data. Cronbach’s alpha for the HELMA instrument was 0.74. Based on factor loading, Access, Reading, and self-efficacy were combined under the sub-domain ‘Approach.’ Health literacy was highest in the domain of ‘Numeracy’ followed by ‘Understanding’ and ‘Approach’. Lower health literacy was observed among younger students and those in lower semesters while having a health worker in the family significantly improved health literacy among participants. Our findings support the use of the HELMA instrument to assess
youth health literacy.

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Author Biographies

Asha Vashe, Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Assistant Professor

Division of Physiology,

Department of Basic Medical Sciences

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Varalakshmi Chandra Sekaran, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus), Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus), Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Diya Gobindram Chandnani, Manipal University College Malaysia

Diya Gobindram Chandnani
diya.g.chandnani@gmail.com

4th year MBBS student

Manipal University College Malaysia

Orcid: 0000-0002-0318-0970

Noor Aisyah binti Anwar Batcha, 4th year MBBS student, Manipal University College Malaysia

Noor Aisyah binti Anwar Batcha
nooraisyah123@gmail.com

4th year MBBS student

Manipal University College Malaysia

Orcid: 0000-0003-1770-6918

Kasveny Moganadass, 4th year MBBS student, Manipal University College Malaysia

Kasveny Moganadass
kashsara2823@gmail.com

4th year MBBS student

Manipal University College Malaysia

Orcid: 0000-0003-1891-2414

Saranya Saghadevan , 4th year MBBS student, Manipal University College Malaysia

Saranya Saghadevan
saranyapillai299@gmail.com

4th year MBBS student

Manipal University College Malaysia 

Orcid: 0000-0002-7227-5965

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Published

2022-12-30

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Section

Articles