Health literacy and the role of social support in different age groups: results of a German cross-sectional survey.

Background: Scholars demand more focus on context-related factors of health literacy as the management of health information is seen as a social practice. One prominent factor is social support that is expected to be particularly relevant for persons vulnerable for low health literacy. It was shown that health literacy can differ across the life span and especially older people have been demonstrated to be vulnerable for low health literacy.

[Health Literacy of People with Former Soviet Union and Turkish Migration Background in Germany].

Aim: So far, there are hardly any data on the health literacy of persons with a migration background in Germany. The aim of the article was to analyse the health literacy of this population group - particularly persons who originate in Turkey and the former Soviet Union (FSU).

Methodology: In summer 2020, face-to-face interviews with 525 persons with FSU and 512 persons with Turkish migration background above the age of 18 were carried out across Germany.

Differences in health literacy domains among migrants and their descendants in Germany.

Background: Health literacy (HL) is considered to be an important precondition for health. HL research often identifies migrants as vulnerable for low HL. However, in-depth data on HL among migrants especially in its domains of health care, disease prevention and health promotion and its determinants are still scarce.

Health literacy in former Soviet Union immigrants in the US: A mixed methods study.

Background: People with limited health literacy may have trouble finding, understanding, and using health-related information and services and navigating the healthcare system.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the health literacy of immigrants from the former Soviet Union (FSU) using the Health Literacy Survey (HLS19-Q12 in Russian) and explore associated socio-demographic factors.

Method: This mixed methods study recruited adult immigrants through social networks and social media and included data from online survey and follow-up interviews.

[DNVF Memorandum Health Literacy (Part 2) - Operationalisation and Measuring of Health Literacy from a Health Services Research Perspective].

The "DNVF Memorandum Health Literacy (Part 2): Operationalization and Measurement of Health Literacy from the Perspective of Health Services Research" of the German Network for Health Services Research represents the continuation of the memorandum "DNVF Memorandum Health Literacy (Part 1): Background, Subject and Issues in Health Services Research". In addition to the general requirements for the measurement of health literacy, this memorandum also deals with the specific requirements, such as the differentiation of health literacy from related constructs, the differences between performance-based and self-assessment methods, the differences between generic and specific instruments, the use of screening instruments, and the measurement of health literacy in special populations. Furthermore, special considerations about the measurement of digital health literacy, potentials of qualitative and participatory research approaches as well as research ethics in the measurement of health literacy will be elaborated on.

Adaptation of the Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-Q) for Russian-Speaking Populations-International Collaboration across Germany, Israel, Kazakhstan, Russia, and the USA.

The Russian language is the eighth most spoken language in the world. Russian speakers reside in Russia, across the former Soviet Union republics, and comprise one of the largest populations of international migrants. However, little is known about their health literacy (HL) and there is limited research on HL instruments in the Russian language.

Navigational health literacy among people with chronic illness.

Objectives: People with chronic illness are particularly dependent on navigating and using the health care system. This requires navigational health literacy (HL-NAV). The article aims to examine the distribution and predictors of HL-NAV in a sample of chronically ill individuals.

[Digital Health Literacy of the Population in Germany: Results of the HLS-GER 2].

Aim: While the availability and variety of digital information on health offers a range of opportunities, they also pose a number of challenges, because the need for digital health literacy (DHL) is increasing along with the growing range of information possibilities. The aim of this study was to analyze the extent of DHL in the German population, key determinants, and consequences for the use of digital health information resources.

Methodology: The analysis was based on data from the Second Health Literacy Survey Germany (HLS-GER 2), consisting of a representative sample of n=2,151.

Health Literacy in Germany - Findings of a Representative Follow-up Survey.

Background: Studies have shown that the health literacy of the German population is low. The aim of this article is to analyze current developments in health literacy on the basis of recent data.

Methods: The Health Literacy Survey Germany 2 (HLS-GER 2) is a representative quantitative survey of the German-speaking resident population of Germany aged 18 and above.

[Health Literacy in Germany before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic].

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the general and digital health literacy (HL) of the German population before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and during its persistence and to investigate different changes in population groups.

Methodology: The analyses are based on population representative cross-sectional data collected in 2019/2020 before and 2020 during the pandemic. An internationally coordinated questionnaire (HLS) was used.

The effect of self-efficacy on health literacy in the German population.

Concerning the determinants of health literacy (HL) mostly socio-demographic or -economic factors have been considered, much less so psychological factors such as self-efficacy. To date, it has mostly been considered to explain the relationship of HL and health outcomes. However, self-efficacy could also be an important determinant for HL.

A Multilingual Integrative Review of Health Literacy in Former Soviet Union, Russian-Speaking Immigrants.

Large diasporas of former Soviet Union (FSU) immigrants are found in the USA, Germany, and Israel. To synthesize evidence, identify limitations, and propose future directions we conducted an integrative review on the health literacy of FSU immigrants, migrants, or refugees in four languages. Following integrative review and PRISMA guidelines, we searched four databases in English and performed supplementary searches in Russian, German, and Hebrew to identify qualitative and quantitative studies on FSU immigrants and health literacy.

[Health Literacy among People with Chronic Illness].

Background: People with chronic illnesses (Pwci) face a variety of challenges in managing their illness and using health care. Thus, their need for information and health literacy (HL) is high. While the topic has already been addressed in international research, there is a lack of studies on health literacy among Pwci in Germany.

Coronavirus-Related Health Literacy: A Cross-Sectional Study in Adults during the COVID-19 Infodemic in Germany.

There is an "infodemic" associated with the COVID-19 pandemic-an overabundance of valid and invalid information. Health literacy is the ability to access, understand, appraise, and apply health information, making it crucial for navigating coronavirus and COVID-19 information environments. A cross-sectional representative study of participants ≥ 16 years in Germany was conducted using an online survey.

[DNVF Memorandum Health Literacy (Part 1) - Background, Relevance, Research Topics and Questions in Health Services Research].

More than half of the German population has difficulties in dealing with health information. It is an important task of health services research to examine how healthcare professionals and health care organizations can meet this challenge. The DNVF Memorandum Health Literacy (Part 1) defines the terms of individual and organizational health literacy, presents the national and international state of research and ethical aspects of health literacy research in health care settings.

[DNVF Memorandum Health Literacy (Part 1) - Background, Relevance, Research Topics and Questions in Health Services Research: Short Version].

More than half of the German population has difficulties in dealing with health information. It is an important task of health services research to examine how healthcare professionals and health care organizations can meet this challenge. This short version of the DNVF Memorandum Health Literacy (Part 1) defines the terms of individual and organizational health literacy, presents the national and international state of research and ethical aspects of health literacy research in health care settings.

Breast cancer incidence and mammography screening among resettlers in Germany.

Background: European studies showed that women with a migration background are less likely to participate in mammography screenings than autochthonous women. However, the participation in the German mammography screening programme (MSP) among ethnic German migrants from countries of the former Soviet Union (called resettlers) is unclear so far. The aim of this study was to identify possible differences regarding MSP participation between resettlers from the FSU and the general German population.

International Perspective on Health Literacy and Health Equity: Factors That Influence the Former Soviet Union Immigrants.

Among the world's 272 million international migrants, more than 25 million are from the former Soviet Union (FSU), yet there is a paucity of literature available about FSU immigrants' health literacy. Besides linguistic and cultural differences, FSU immigrants often come from a distinct healthcare system affecting their ability to find, evaluate, process, and use health information in the host countries. In this scoping review and commentary, we describe the health literacy issues of FSU immigrants and provide an overview of FSU immigrants' health literacy based on the integrated health literacy model.

Health Literacy and Health Service Use in Germany.

Background: Health literacy (HL) is defined as the ability to process health-related information to make decisions to maintain health and improve quality of life. A growing number of studies demonstrate that people with lower HL are less likely to use preventive services but more likely to use curative, emergency, or hospital care.

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between HL and the use of different types of health services in a sample of the general German population, as we expected that the effect of HL on the frequency of use differs by type of health service.

Development of the Informed Choice in Mammography Screening Questionnaire (IMQ): factor structure, reliability, and validity.

Background: Informed choice is of ethical and practical importance in mammography screening. To assess the level to which decisions regarding such screening are informed is thus imperative, but no specific instrument has been available to measure informed choice in the German mammography screening programme. The aims of this study were to develop the Informed Choice in Mammography Screening Questionnaire (IMQ) and to find first evidence for the factor structure, reliability and validity of its different components.

[Health Literacy in Advanced Age].

Background: Health literacy is a frequently discussed concept. Previous studies indicate that older people more often experience difficulties in dealing with health-relevant information compared to the general population. However, existing studies consider older people as a homogeneous group.

Uptake of Gynecological Cancer Screening and Performance of Breast Self-Examination Among 50-Year-Old Migrant and Non-migrant Women in Germany: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study (InEMa).

Our aim was to provide data regarding uptake of gynecological early detection measures and performance of breast self-examinations among migrant women in Germany. Cross-sectional self-reported data were collected using paper-and-pencil questionnaires. Descriptive analyses, Chi square-tests, and logistic regression were applied.

Health literacy in old age: results of a German cross-sectional study.

Health literacy is especially important for older people to maintain or enhance remaining health resources and self-management skills. The aim of the study was to determine the level of health literacy and the association between health literacy, demographic and socio-economic factors in German older adults aged 65 years and above stratified by age group. Health literacy was assessed via computer-assisted personal interviews using HLS-EU-Q47 on a representative sample of the German-speaking population.