Health Literacy, Health Behavior and States of Health among Trainee Personnel in Northern Germany.

Susanne Steinke,Zita Schillmöller,Janna Lietz,Peter Koch,Albert Nienhaus

doi:10.3390/healthcare9060757

Susanne Steinke, Zita Schillmöller + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9060757

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Abstract

(1) Background: The start of vocational education is a challenge for many people whose careers are just beginning. The working conditions exact new physical and mental tolls that can have an impact on their state of health and health behavior. Well-developed health literacy helps to encourage greater self-responsibility with respect to health and safety in the workplace. This study aimed to contribute to the evolution of health-related interventions in vocational training and instruction. (2) Methodology: This cross-sectional study examined health literacy, health behavior, and states of health among trainees engaged in work-and-study vocational training in 11 professions at the start of their education courses in northern Germany. The data were collected using a paper and pencil format. (3) Results: The survey was approved by 47 vocational schools (response rate 14%), with 1797 trainees returning their questionnaires (response rate 36%). The average age of the overall cohort was 21, and 70% of the trainees were female. A total of 47% of the participants began their careers with sufficient health literacy; health literacy was problematic in 40% of cases, and inadequate in 13% of cases. Around 50% of trainees exhibited poor dietary regime and risky alcohol intake, while 58% reported having a medical condition that had been previously formally diagnosed. (4) Conclusion: There is a need to provide support for developing a healthier approach to work at the start of vocational training.

Highlights

Health literacy (HL) provides resources and potential for enabling individuals to gain more control over their health and over factors that affect their health [1]
Communicating and encouraging health literacy is important for the study group under review, as the majority of them showed limited HL
Our findings show that there is no gender-specific difference in HL

Summary

Introduction

Health literacy (HL) provides resources and potential for enabling individuals to gain more control over their health and over factors that affect their health [1]. The importance of HL has resulted in the undertaking of many activities in the fields of research, government, and practical applications in recent years. The promotion of these skills has become part of political strategic documents such as the European Health 2020 conceptual framework [2] or the National Health Literacy Action Plan [3] for Germany. Sørensen et al developed a definition of HL that was based on 12 conceptual models and 17 definitions [4]: “Health literacy is linked to literacy and entails people’s knowledge, motivation and competences to access, understand, appraise, and apply health information in order to make judgments and take decisions in everyday life concerning healthcare, disease prevention and health promotion to maintain or improve quality of life during the life course.”. If external conditions or individual circumstances change, the acquired skills must be adapted and expanded [5]

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Conclusion