Mapping the continuum of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in Chile: Insights from qualitative research among nationals and migrants.

Effect of a health literacy education program on the health literacy of parents of children with disabilities in special education and rehabilitation centers.

The 21st Century Cures Act allows patients to have immediate access to their medical records. However, it is documented that health literacy levels in patient portal users vary, and results shared with patients may require further explanation. The objective of this exploratory study was to evaluate if an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot assistant (ChatGPT; Open AI, Inc.) may be used to simplify gynecologic cytopathology reports for patients. The authors also assessed pathologists' opinions on the quality of simplified pathology reports generated with ChatGPT. An experienced cytopathologist created 15 unique gynecologic cytopathology reports based on The Bethesda System for Reporting Cervical Cytology. Two cytopathologists evaluated multiple possible prompts to ask ChatGPT for simplified, summarized explanations of cytopathology reports. The two prompts selected for this study were prompt 1 ("Explain this medical report to a child using simple language") and prompt 2 ("What are the most important things I should know from my pathology report?"). Six pathologists received a questionnaire to evaluate factual accuracy, the inclusion of relevant medical information, and potential harm to the patient. They were asked to score each simplified explanation using a five-point Likert scale. Pathologists were also asked to list any missing information and potential physical and/or psychological harm. The scores were tabulated and analyzed. Six board-certified pathologists provided 180 evaluations of ChatGPT's explanations. The vast majority were scored as accurate, factually complete, and not perceived as a possible cause of harm for the patients, especially when using prompt 2. Explanations from ChatGPT for prompt 1 were scored less favorably. This study provides insight into the field of automated simplification of pathology reports using ChatGPT. With proper prompting, AI chatbots have potential to serve as powerful assistants to patients desiring accurate, simple summaries of their gynecologic cytopathology reports, with minimal or no harm. These findings are based on pathologists' opinions-an indirect measure of patient understanding. Future studies should directly measure patient comprehension and intended follow-up actions to ensure that AI-simplified reports are not only medically accurate but truly patient-centered.

Optimizing Thyroid Cytopathology Reports Focused on a Patient-Centered Approach: Mixed Methods Study.

Health and eHealth literacy in Vietnam: Evidence from a National survey.

To assess health literacy levels and identify factors influencing them among community-dwelling older adults with pre-frailty. This cross-sectional study enrolled 254 participants in community health service centers in five cities in Zhejiang Province, China. Health literacy was assessed using the Short-Form Health Literacy Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t tests, analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation analysis, and hierarchical linear regression analysis. Mean age of participants was 72.44 years (SD = 5.8 years). Mean health literacy index score was 28.72 (SD = 5.38). Higher health literacy was significantly associated with younger age (p = .007), higher educational attainment (junior high school: p = .031; senior high school: p = .002; college or higher: p < .001), smart-phone use (p = .009), regular exercise (p = .011), and social engagement (p = .002). Health literacy showed significant negative associations with three or more chronic diseases (p = .031) and psychological distress (p < .001). The study revealed significantly low health literacy among older adults with pre-frailty. Health care professionals should adopt targeted interventions focusing on individuals with low health literacy. Future research could develop and evaluate targeted interventions to examine the effects of health promotion on health literacy in community-based populations of older adults with pre-frailty.

Inadequate health literacy (HL) is a critical factor contributing to fall risk among older adults. However, evidence on how HL relates to home environment and fall prevention behaviors in Asian community settings remains limited. This study aimed to assess HL levels and examine their associations with sociodemographic characteristics, home environment, and fall prevention behaviors. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 177 community-dwelling older adults aged 60 to 79 years. Data were collected through structured questionnaires assessing sociodemographic characteristics, home environment, fall prevention behaviors, and HL using the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47), which cover three subdomains: healthcare, disease prevention, and health promotion. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to examine the associations between sociodemographic factors, home environment, fall prevention behaviors, and HL. The HL score among older adults was 34.50 ± 7.50 (54.2% limited HL). A total HL score was positively associated with regular exercise (β = 2.73, 95% CI: 0.71, 4.74) and a sitting toilet (β = 6.38; 95% CI: 3.83, 8.92) and marginally associated with wearing properly fitting shoes (β = 2.54; 95% CI: 0.22, 4.86). Therefore, the health promotion aimed at improving HL in this population may benefit from concurrently promoting regular exercise, home safety modifications, and safe footwear practices.

Although health literacy (HL) is critically important for making informed healthcare decisions, studies examining HL levels among individuals with visual impairments are limited. In this cross-sectional study, the HL levels of 89 adults with low vision or total blindness in the Aksaray province of Turkey were evaluated. The participants’ abilities to access, understand, evaluate, and apply health information were measured using a sociodemographic questionnaire and a validated Health Literacy Scale. The findings indicate that, while participants primarily accessed health information through assistive technologies, more than half had difficulty interpreting medical content. Education level, employment status, and social security coverage emerged as significant determinants of HL; higher education, steady employment, and insurance coverage were associated with higher HL scores. These results highlight the importance of accessible educational materials and adapted communication strategies for visually impaired individuals. By adopting inclusive health policies and training healthcare professionals in effective communication, substantial improvements in health outcomes and overall well-being can be achieved for this population.

ABSTRACTBackgroundCommunity pharmacy workers (CPW) have a crucial role in enhancing patients' understanding and empowerment about their disease in accordance with their health literacy (HL) level. We aimed to explore the barriers and enablers of CPWs' behaviours regarding HL in the interactions with patients with chronic conditions: 1/assessing patients' HL level and 2/tailoring communication to HL level.MethodsWe conducted a cross‐sectional sequential explanatory mixed‐method study. The study was underpinned by the theoretical domain framework (TDF) that maps the key psychological and organizational factors that influence behavior of health professionals. First, an online self‐completed questionnaire on TDF determinants of implementation behavior was sent to CPWs (pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Auvergne‐Rhône‐Alpes, France). Findings were analysed using the confidence interval‐based estimation of relevance method. Second, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with a sample of survey respondents, to detail the information previously gathered.ResultsAmong the 111 respondents (91 pharmacists and 20 technicians), 84% stated that they were not aware of the concept of HL. However, after being shortly introduced to HL, most claimed to informally assess patient HL level and adapt their communication accordingly, however their assessment was described as based on subjective and unstructured approaches. Key barriers were the lack of an adapted environment (no clear indication in the pharmacy environment), resources (lack of time, staff, specific remuneration, tools dedicated to assess patients' HL level), and habitual behavior (they did not routinely assess all patients' HL and the time of the day influenced whether they adapt or not their communication to patients' HL level), and the difficulties to contact other healthcare providers (to have a multidisciplinary approach to improve patients' HL level).ConclusionsThis study identified determinants that could be targeted to enhance adoption of HL‐tailored communication techniques in community pharmacy. Our results might guide the development of effective theory‐based interventions to improve communication practices among CPW.

Background The public health landscape in India is currently characterized by two converging crises: the increasing incidence of emerging and re-emerging viral exanthems—including Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD), Chikungunya, Dengue, and Mpox—and the escalating threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). A critical intersection of these challenges lies in the clinical and public misidentification of viral rashes as bacterial skin infections, a phenomenon that drives inappropriate antibiotic consumption. With the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) launching the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) 2.0 in late 2025, there is an urgent need to understand the grassroots level of health literacy regarding these conditions. This study employs a cross-sectional observational design, utilizing a structured public awareness survey with a dataset of 444 respondents from diverse demographic backgrounds across India.1 The survey assessed the public's ability to differentiate viral exanthems from bacterial pyodermas and evaluated self-medication practices. These findings were triangulated with secondary clinical data from a tertiary care dermatology setting to correlate public perception with prescribing realities. The analysis reveals a profound deficit in diagnostic literacy. Only 18.4% of respondents could correctly identify the viral etiology of vesicular rashes typical of HFMD, while a significant majority (61.9%) admitted to using antibiotics for undiagnosed febrile illnesses.1 Clinical data indicates that while dermatologists largely adhere to WHO AWaRe protocols (69.5% Access group prescriptions), the demand for "quick cures" in the community fuels the misuse of "Watch" group antibiotics like Azithromycin.

Abstract Given Bangladesh’s rising diabetes burden and scarce data on health literacy, this study evaluated health literacy levels and associated sociodemographic factors among diabetic adults. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at Mujibur Rahman Memorial Diabetic Hospital, Kushtia, Bangladesh from November 2024 to March 2025, using face-to-face interviews with structured questionnaires. Health literacy was assessed using the 47-item European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire. Among the 465 participants, health literacy levels were distributed as follows: 72.7% inadequate, 16.3% problematic, and 11% sufficient. Key sociodemographic factors such as gender, age, and educational attainment were associated with health literacy. Specifically, sufficient health literacy was higher among male participants (OR = 2.87; 95% CI = 1.28–6.44; p = 0.011). Older adults (OR = 0.15; 95%CI = 0.05–0.52; p = 0.002) and participants with lower educational attainment [e.g., primary education (OR = 0.02; 95%CI = 0.01–0.05; p &lt; 0.001) and secondary education (OR = 0.04; 95%CI = 0.01–0.12; p &lt; 0.001)] were less likely to demonstrate sufficient health literacy than their respective counterparts. Future research should both expand the geographic scope of assessment and explore underlying factors through mixed-methods approaches.

Abstract Background In recent years, college students have been confronted with multiple pressures such as academic competition, interpersonal adaptation and career planning. Psychological problems caused by insufficient mental health literacy have become a difficult point affecting the quality of talent cultivation in colleges and universities. The role of social perception ability, as a psychological ability in interpersonal interaction, in enhancing mental health literacy has been initially confirmed, but there is a lack of empirical verification from large samples and multiple dimensions. Therefore, this study aims to provide a scientific basis for mental health education in colleges and universities through systematic research. Methods The study adopted stratified sampling to select a total of 528 college students from three different types of universities, namely comprehensive, science and engineering, and liberal arts, as the research subjects. Among them, there were 231 male students and 297 female students, covering academic grades from the first year to the fourth year. The research adopted standardized scales tested for reliability and validity to collect data from the Social Perception Ability Scale, the College Students' Mental Health Literacy Scale, the Emotion Regulation Ability Scale, and the Psychological Resilience Scale. Among them, the social perception ability scale includes emotion recognition, empathetic understanding, interpersonal insight, and the college students' mental health literacy scale is divided into knowledge awareness, problem identification, attitude towards seeking help, and adjustment skills. The study conducted descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis on the data through SPSS 26.0 software. A structural equation model was constructed through AMOS 24.0 to test the mediating effect and moderating effect. All statistical analyses passed the two-sided test. Results The research results show that college students' social perception ability is significantly positively correlated with the overall score of mental health literacy and the scores of each dimension (all p values are less than 0.001). The results of multiple regression analysis indicated that social perception ability could positively predict the overall level of mental health literacy (β = 0.58, p&amp;lt;.001), with an explanatory variance as high as 38.91%. Among them, emotion recognition (β = 0.24, p&amp;lt;.001), empathetic understanding (β = 0.19, p&amp;lt;.001), and interpersonal insight (β = 0.16, p&amp;lt;.001) all have significant positive predictive effects on mental health literacy. The results of the mediating effect test indicated that emotional regulation ability played a partial mediating role between social perception ability and mental health literacy, with an indirect effect value of 0.21, accounting for 36.24% of the total effect. The results of the moderating effect analysis revealed that psychological resilience could significantly moderate the impact of social perception ability on mental health literacy (β = 0.14, p&amp;lt;.01). In addition, the predictive effect of the high psychological resilience group (M = 4.11 ± 0.46) was significantly higher than that of the low psychological resilience group (M = 3.26 ± 0.52). Discussion The research results show that social perception ability has a significant positive predictive effect on the mental health literacy of college students. Emotional regulation ability and psychological resilience can strengthen this positive influence. This conclusion provides a precise intervention direction for mental health education in colleges and universities. Funding No. 24A0013.

In France, reluctance toward hepatitis B vaccination remains high, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine to prevent this infection. To boost vaccination coverage, it is therefore essential to identify the factors that are likely to encourage a more favorable opinion of this vaccine. Health literacy (HL) is one such factor. It refers to the individual ability to access, understand, critically appraise, and apply health information to make informed decisions about health issues for oneself and for others. This study explored the mechanisms through which HL might affect opinions about hepatitis B vaccination, both directly and indirectly, by relevant factors, including opinions about vaccination in general, trust in government health agencies, and trust in medical doctors. The analysis used data from the SLAVACO-Wave 3 (Suivi Longitudinal des Attitudes à l'Égard d'un Vaccin Contre la COVID-19) survey, conducted in December 2021 among a representative sample of French adults (N=1932). Favorable and unfavorable opinions of hepatitis B vaccination were measured using a 5-point Likert scale, while HL was assessed using the HLS19-Q12 questionnaire (12-item general health literacy questionnaire used in Health Literacy Survey 2019-2021). A structural equation model examined the relationship between HL and hepatitis B vaccination opinions, taking into account the potential mediating role of trust in the health care system (ie, government health agencies and medical doctors). Findings showed that individuals with a favorable opinion of hepatitis B vaccination (1437/1932, 74.4%) had a higher HL level than those with a negative or neutral opinion (62.6 vs 57.0, P<.001). The association between HL and hepatitis B vaccination opinions was fully mediated by trust in the health care system. The indirect effect of HL was estimated at 0.068 (95% CI 0.042-0.093), accounting for 52.4% (0.068/0.1297) of the total effect. This effect was particularly pronounced in people over 50 years (0.084, 95% CI 0.042-0.126, accounting for 0.084/0.1306, 64.3% of the total effect). Goodness-of-fit indicators were satisfactory. Enhancing HL might positively influence hepatitis B vaccination opinions and uptake through greater trust in the health care system. From a public health perspective, strategies should go beyond providing clear information and access to vaccines and actively work to strengthen trust in health care institutions and professionals. National campaigns correcting misconceptions about hepatitis B vaccination could be complemented by targeted interventions for groups most likely to hold negative opinions. Repeating this survey in the post-COVID-19 context could also reveal different trends, given evolving public perceptions of vaccines and health authorities.

Health literacy (HL) is a key determinant of individual and public health outcomes, as it influences people's ability to access, understand, and apply health information for informed decision-making. Although the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q16) has been validated in several countries, no psychometric validation had previously been conducted in Ecuador. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the HLS-EU-Q16 in a sample of 612 Ecuadorian adults from the three main regions of the country. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to examine the factorial structure. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega, measurement invariance was tested across sex, age, and area of residence, and known-groups validity was evaluated through group comparisons. The CFA supported a three-factor model consistent with the theoretical framework of healthcare, disease prevention, and health promotion (χ2/df = 2.37, CFI = 0.990, TLI = 0.988, RMSEA = 0.039, SRMR = 0.049), with all factor loadings exceeding 0.50 and excellent model fit. Strict measurement invariance was confirmed across sex, age, and area of residence. The scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α = 0.92; ω = 0.94) and strong reliability across dimensions. Known-groups validity was supported, with higher HL levels observed among participants with postgraduate education, urban residence, and absence of financial hardship or chronic illness. These findings confirm that the Spanish HLS-EU-Q16 is a valid, reliable, and invariant instrument for assessing health literacy in Ecuadorian adults. The availability of this tool provides a solid foundation for evidence-based health education, targeted interventions, and public health policies aimed at promoting equity and strengthening health literacy in Ecuador and Latin America.

ABSTRACT Objective Investigating whether there is a difference in health literacy and healthy lifestyle behaviors between individuals who have and have not had infection after the COVID-19 outbreak, and also to examine the relationship between health literacy and healthy lifestyle behaviors. Methods Participants were assessed with the European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU-Q) and the Healthy Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II) scales online via Google Forms using various social media platforms. Also, the individuals’ habits of obtaining health-related knowledge and general health conditions, health-related recourse sources, and the frequency of exercise were also recorded and compared. Results Three hundred and sixty-seven individuals (64.4% female) participated in the study and analysis of the HLS-EU-Q and HPLP-II Scale results of all participants revealed a positive correlation between two scales (p = .009, r = 0.137). However, no significant difference was found between participants with (Group I, n = 183) and without (Group II, n = 184) COVID-19 infection in terms of HLS-EU-Q and HPLP-II scales (p > .05). Conclusion It was concluded that the health literacy levels and healthy lifestyle behaviors of individuals who had and did not have COVID-19 infection were similar. However, there was a weak but significant correlation between the level of health literacy and the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Vaccine hesitancy remains a significant public health challenge, even in countries with high vaccination coverage, such as Italy. Understanding the sociodemographic, informational, and psychological characteristics associated with hesitancy is essential for designing effective, targeted interventions. To describe and compare the sociodemographic, behavioral, informational, and psychological profiles of vaccine-hesitant and non-hesitant Italian parents. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2024 and February 2025 using an anonymous online survey distributed through social media and parenting websites. Eligible participants were parents or legal guardians of children aged 0-18 years, residing in Italy. Vaccine hesitancy was assessed using the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines short form (PACV-5), alongside validated measures of health literacy (HLS-EU-Q6), vaccine literacy (HLVa-IT), adult vaccine hesitancy (aVHS), vaccine confidence (VCI), and parental health locus of control (PHLOC). Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed to examine the differences between hesitant and non-hesitant parents. Of the 308 participants, 13% were classified as vaccine-hesitant. Hesitancy was significantly associated with lower educational attainment, absence of a health care background, reliance on television and health assistants for vaccine information, lower health and vaccine literacy, lower vaccine confidence, and higher scores in the Fate subscale of the Chance domain and the Child subscale of the Internal domain of the Health Locus. A total of 89.94% of parents reported full adherence to vaccination schedules, yet hesitant parents were more likely to partially vaccinate their children and express selective vaccination intentions. Discrepancies between past vaccination behavior and future intentions were observed, suggesting that hesitancy is dynamic and potentially unstable. Vaccine hesitancy among Italian parents is associated with low health literacy and confidence levels, distinct health beliefs, and specific information-seeking patterns. These findings suggest public health efforts should include trust-building approaches that address cognitive skills, fatalistic beliefs, and preferred communication channels. Longitudinal research is necessary to monitor changes in parental attitudes and to guide adaptive intervention strategies.

Environmental health studies frequently measure levels of harmful chemicals in people or personal spaces, and returning those individual levels is an ethical responsibility and important opportunity to teach people about chemical exposures and how to reduce them. We sought to enhance meaningful report-back by quantitatively evaluating a personalized tutorial designed to support environmental health literacy about personal chemical exposures. We developed a novel smartphone-based tutorial that used the Predict-Observe-Explain educational framework to increase understanding of personal results graphs and promote taking actions to lower exposure. We deployed the tutorial as part of report-back in the Illinois Kids Development Study and Chemicals in Our Bodies pregnancy cohorts, and we collected digital analytics on how participants (n = 295) interacted with it. We tested the effect of the tutorial on participants' accuracy at answering four graph-reading questions and examined differences by educational attainment and socioeconomic status. The tutorial prompted participants to select exposure sources that were relevant to them, and we calculated response frequencies of participants' self-reported interest in taking related actions. A total of 92% of participants (n = 270) completed the Predict and Observe phases of the tutorial. Among those participants, 70% (n = 188) correctly answered all four graph-reading questions on their first attempt (without tutorial assistance), and success increased to 96% (n = 258) after the tutorial provided feedback and participants could make a second attempt. Improvement was greatest among participants without a bachelor's degree. Participants who answered the Explain phase (n = 182) expressed high interest in trying new behaviors to reduce exposure. While most participants understood their personal exposure graph without assistance, the tutorial successfully reduced differences in understanding by educational attainment. The tutorial was also effective at creating intentions to adopt health-protective behaviors. Scalable tools like this can support effective report-back in populations with all levels of environmental health literacy. To help people at all educational levels learn about their chemical levels and how to reduce them, we developed a personalized tutorial for use in reporting back results in environmental exposure studies. Before tutorial assistance, participants without a bachelor's degree had lower understanding of their personal results graphs. Tutorial assistance successfully reduced differences in understanding between those with and without a bachelor's degree. In addition, the tutorial was effective at creating intentions to adopt health-protective behaviors based on personalized recommendations for each participant. This scalable digital tool supports understanding and action during report-back of chemical exposure results.

Few studies on teleconsultation (TC) have focused on comparing the points of view of general practitioners (GPs) and patients. To explore bio-psycho-social situations suitable for TC according to GPs and patients. A qualitative study, with thematic analysis, was conducted. Data were collected through individual, semi-directed face-to-face or remote interviews with GPs and patients. The interview guide was validated by a steering committee that included patients. Maximum variation sampling of established GPs and patients was based on diversification criteria. Thirteen patients and eleven physicians were included in this study. The main condition for TC was a pre-established relationship of trust. It was used on an Ad hoc basis as an alternative to face-to-face consultations. Patients and GPs identified that the use of TC should be the result of a shared decision. Participants agreed on the situations in which the use of TC could be justified: to respond to one-off, specific requests, for benign reasons or reasons not requiring a physical examination. Patients considered their health experience and level of health literacy to be strong determinants of TC use. Participants noted the risk of TC widening certain inequalities in access to care. Patients and doctors have identified the same suitable situations and the need to respect certain prerequisites. TC seems appropriate when its use is the result of a prior shared decision between patient and GP.

Alcohol is a widely used psychoactive substance, and its use constitutes a major public health challenge due to its immediate and long-term adverse effects on various health-related outcomes. Adolescence has been identified as a particularly vulnerable phase regarding alcohol use. Although consumption rates in this age group have declined in Germany over the past decades, a plateau has been reached, and there is a continued need for interventions to further reduce consumption rates. This study aimed to assess problematic alcohol use among adolescents in Germany and explore associations with sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics, particularly with health literacy, to inform future interventions tailored to the specific needs of this target group. In a cross-sectional quota-based survey, 2006 adolescents (aged 12-17 years) completed an online survey (n=1406) or face-to-face interview (n=600) assessing the frequency of weekly alcohol use, the presence of problematic alcohol use (German version of the Car-, Relax-, Alone-, Forget-, Friends-, Trouble- questionnaire [CRAFFT-d]), sociodemographic information, and health literacy (European Health Literacy Survey instrument [HLS-EU-Q16]). Based on their CRAFFT-d and HLS-EU-Q16 scores, participants were identified as exhibiting problematic alcohol use (vs no problematic alcohol use) and inadequate or problematic health literacy levels (vs adequate health literacy levels), respectively. Chi-square tests were computed to analyze differences between different groups (as defined by the sociodemographic factors, weekly alcohol consumption frequency, and health literacy) in terms of problematic alcohol use (binary CRAFFT-d outcome). Approximately 20% (390/2006) of the participants reported consuming alcohol on at least 1 day per week, and 12.7% (255/2006) of the sample met the CRAFFT-d screening criterion for problematic alcohol use. Problematic alcohol use was significantly associated with gender (χ21=20.96, V=0.10; P<.001), age (χ22=85.88, V=0.21; P<.001), subjective social status (χ22=8.23, V=0.06; P=.02), and migration background (χ21=5.60, V=0.05; P=.02), but there were no significant associations with level of education (χ21=3.43, V=0.04; P=.06), and health literacy (χ21=1.54, V=0.03; P=.21). In addition, participants who reported more frequent alcohol consumption per week, also met the screening criterion for problematic alcohol consumption more frequently (χ27=698.65, V=0.59; P<.001). The findings demonstrate that problematic alcohol use is more common in boys than girls, in older vs younger adolescents, in those with high or low (vs intermediate) social status, in individuals with (vs without) a migration background, and in those who drink alcohol more frequently. These results emphasize the necessity of implementing targeted prevention strategies that address the specific risk profiles of adolescents concerning alcohol consumption.

AI-supported mental health literacy and action competencies among special education and mainstream teachers in inclusive primary schools are critical for promoting early identification and support of students’ psychological needs. This abstract proposes a study that examines teachers’ knowledge, attitudes, and skills in using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to recognize, respond to, and refer mental health concerns in inclusive classroom settings. The study will adopt a mixed-methods design, combining a survey of special and mainstream primary school teachers with in-depth interviews to explore how AI-enabled platforms, such as early warning systems and digital screening tools, are integrated into daily pedagogical and pastoral practices. Quantitative data will assess levels of mental health literacy, perceived AI self-efficacy, and action competencies, while qualitative data will capture teachers’ lived experiences, contextual challenges, and culturally grounded concerns. Findings are expected to highlight gaps in AI-related competencies, variations between special education and mainstream teachers, and the influence of school policies and support structures on responsible AI use for student well-being. The study aims to inform evidence-based professional development, ethical and context-sensitive guidelines, and mental health policies that strengthen the role of teachers as front-line partners in AI-augmented school mental health systems within inclusive primary education.