7.F. Workshop: Health literacy in the European Region: a summary of survey results and policy recommendations

Abstract

Abstract As the European Health Literacy Survey HLS-EU (2009-2012) and experience in many countries has shown, measuring population health literacy is important for putting health literacy on the agenda of health policy, practice and research and to inform health policy where there is specific need for improving health literacy by interventions. For the Health Literacy Survey 2019 of WHÓs Action network on Measuring Population and Organizational Health Literacy (M-POHL), the HLS19-Q12 instrument on measuring comprehensive general health literacy (HL) of general adult populations was developed, building on the HLS-EU instrument. Furthermore, specific instruments have been developed for measuring digital, communication, navigation, and vaccination health literacy. The survey was implemented in 17 countries in the European Regions of the World Health Organization with representative national samples of above 1000 respondents, between 2019 and 2021. This workshop with two presentations and 3 panelists will present methodology and main results of the European Health Literacy Survey 2019 and recommendations for health policy based on the results of the survey. The first presentation “The European Health Literacy Survey 2019 of M-POHL: a summary of its main results” will focus on construction, validation, and distribution of the scores and categorial levels of the HLS19-Q12 instrument. Results social gradient and on selected determinants of HL measures and consequences of general HL in the areas of health behaviors and life stye, health status and healthcare utilization will be shown. Overall trends in HL in the participating countries and variation between these countries will be provided. The second presentation “Policy recommendations for improving health literacy: based on European Health Literacy Survey 2019” will present procedure and outcome of drafting recommendations for policy implementations in Europe based on the survey results by the M-POHL consortium. Speakers/Panelists Kristine Sørensen Global Health Literacy Academy, Health Literacy Europe, Aarhus, Denmark Miguel Arriaga Division of Literacy, Health and Well-being, Directorate-General on Health, Lisbon, Portugal Maria Lopatina National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia Key messages Measurement of health literacy of adult populations of 17 countries in the European region by the HLS19 study shows general trends and considerable variation by country. Results of the HLS19 study were a good basis for developing policy recommendations for improving health literacy in Europe.