Abstract:

Personnel working in health institutions play an important role in ensuring that the health service is of higher quality and efficiency. It is important for health professionals, who should set an example to the society with their healthy lifestyle behaviors, to have sufficient health literacy in order to help patients regain their health and to communicate effectively with all patients. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between health literacy and healthy lifestyle behaviors of higher education students. The universe of the research consists of 1127 students studying at Altınbaş University Health Vocational School. In the power analysis made in cases where the population size is certain, the required sample number was found to be 286, based on 5% error and 95% confidence level. 293 (25.38%) students participated in the research. The demographic information questionnaire consisting of 16 questions, the “Turkey Health Literacy” (TSOY-32) scale consisting of 32 questions and the “Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale II” consisting of 52 questions were applied to the students. The general average of the students' health literacy was 36.20±7.66; health literacy levels were determined as 9.60% inadequate, 28.30% problematic-limited, 37.50% adequate, 24.60% excellent. The average score of the students participating in the study on the "Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors II" scale was determined as 124.30±23.47. In the correlation analysis, it was determined that there was a statistically significant relationship between health literacy levels and healthy lifestyle behaviors. Suggestions were made about the practices that can be done to improve the health literacy of the students and the training and incentive plans at the universities for the behaviors that will improve the health.

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