@article {36755, title = {Development and validation of an instrument for the health literacy assessment of secondary school students (HeLiASeSS)}, journal = {Health Education}, volume = {122}, year = {2022}, month = {11/2022}, pages = {678-699}, publisher = {MCB University Press}, abstract = {

Purpose

The development of health literacy skills is of paramount importance especially for students, as it is associated with their wellbeing and academic success. Assessing students{\textquoteright} health literacy is necessary for its advancement. This study comes to fill the need for a valid multidimensional health literacy assessment instrument for secondary school students.

Design/methodology/approach

Initially, the authors defined the conceptual framework within which the items of this instrument were generated. Its final form was obtained through three pilot studies. A test-retest followed and, finally, a nationwide survey was conducted on Greek seventh-, ninth- and tenth-grade students (N\ =\ 2,800).

Findings

A 37-item instrument, the Health Literacy Assessment for Secondary School Students (HeLiASeSS), was developed which includes the following nine dimensions/skills of health literacy: {\textquotedblleft}access to{\textquotedblright}, {\textquotedblleft}understand{\textquotedblright} and {\textquotedblleft}evaluate{\textquotedblright} (health information), {\textquotedblleft}functional communication{\textquotedblright}, {\textquotedblleft}interactive communication{\textquotedblright} and {\textquotedblleft}critical communication{\textquotedblright}, {\textquotedblleft}relying on health information{\textquotedblright}, {\textquotedblleft}self-efficacy regarding health matters{\textquotedblright} and {\textquotedblleft}intention for active citizenship regarding health matters{\textquotedblright}. HeLiASeSS proved to have good stability (ICC\ =\ 0.943) and high internal consistency reliability (a\ =\ 0.903).

Originality/value

HeLiASeSS offers the possibility of a reliable and valid assessment of secondary school students{\textquoteright} health literacy skills providing a multidimensional evaluation of this construct and is expected to be useful in interventions aiming at promoting this type of literacy.

}, isbn = {0965-4283}, url = {https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/HE-08-2021-0111/full/html}, author = {Bechraki, Eleni and Evangelia Mavrikaki and Vasileios Gialamas and Galanaki, Evangelia} }