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Assessment of Health-Related Media Literacy Among Clients of Comprehensive Health Service Centers in Boyer-Ahmad County
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Kimiya Izady   , Mohsen Shams1 , Narges Roustaei , Mostafa Maleki , Saadat Parhikar |
| 1- , moshaisf@yahoo.com |
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Abstract: (37 Views) |
Background and Aim: Health-related media literacy is considered a key dimension of overall health literacy, and its assessment is a prerequisite for the effective use of educational and informational media. This study aimed to evaluate health-related media literacy among clients of comprehensive health service centers in Boyer-Ahmad County.
Methods: This descriptive–analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using a researcher‑developed questionnaire. The required sample size was calculated as 144 participants. From the 21 comprehensive health service centers in Boyer-Ahmad County, seven centers were randomly selected. From these centers, 144 clients were recruited through proportional allocation and convenience sampling. After completing the informed consent form, participants responded to the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and the Shapiro–Wilk test, independent t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient.
Results: The mean age of participants was 28.15 ± 9.71 years. Only 25% of participants demonstrated a desirable level of health-related media literacy. No statistically significant association was found between health-related media literacy and age or gender. Mean scores were significantly higher among single individuals compared to married ones (P-value < 0.01); among employees compared to workers (P-value < 0.05), shopkeepers, and homemakers (P-value < 0.01); among students compared to shopkeepers (P-value < 0.05) and homemakers (P-value < 0.01); among participants with university education compared to those with less than a high school diploma (P-value < 0.01) and those with a high school diploma (P-value < 0.001); and among urban residents compared to rural residents (P-value < 0.001).
Conclusion: The level of health-related media literacy in the studied population was below the desirable threshold, and only a limited proportion of participants demonstrated adequate skills in analyzing and evaluating health messages. Educational attainment, employment status, marital status, and place of residence showed the strongest associations with health-related media literacy, whereas age and gender were not significant predictors. |
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| Keywords: Health literacy, media literacy, health-related media literacy, communication for health, health education |
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Educational health
Received: 2024/11/17 | Accepted: 2026/04/29 | Published: 2026/10/5
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