Health Literacy Predicts Readiness to Behavior Change in The Iranian Adult Population

Background and Objectives: Health literacy requires the knowledge, motivation, and competence to access understand, evaluate and apply health information to make judgments and decisions in daily life and to be prepared for the change to maintain or improve quality of life throughout life. This study aimed to investigate the health literacy level in the Iranian adult population (۱۸-۶۴ years old) and its relationship with behavior readiness.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ۸۹۸ people were live in Southwest of Iran participated in the study in February ۲۰۲۲. The random sampling method was simple. According to the number assigned to each client covered by the health center the online link of the questionnaire was sent to their mobile phone through SMS and WhatsApp. Data were analyzed by SPSS۲۵.Results: Only ۳۰.۳% of the subjects had excellent health literacy and ۴۶.۵% had adequate health literacy. The mean score of readiness for behavior change was ۹۲.۶۸ ± ۱۳.۳۱. Health literacy had a positive and significant correlation with readiness for change (r = ۰.۴۰۵, P <۰.۰۰۱). In general health literacy alone predicted ۱۶.۸% variance of behavior change readiness (R square = ۰.۱۶۸, adjusted R = ۰.۱۶۷, P <۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion:  In general health literacy in adults is insufficient. However, promoting health literacy may facilitate readiness to change health behaviors.

Keywords:

Health Literacy , Readiness To Change , Adult Population