health literacy and extracurricular reading habits of students of abadan university of medical sciences

The process of developing health literacy begins in childhood and embraces several skills and experiences. individuals need these skills to properly manage their health and interact with health care systems. the related literature reports recognizing some of the variables that correlate with health literacy sheds some light on communities health literacy. the present study aims to check the level of health literacy and extracurricular reading habits among students of medicine, how they obtain health information, the relationship between their health literacy and their extracurricular reading habits, and the relation between extracurricular reading habits and each of five aspects of health literacy. participants were (n=220) studying at abadan university of medical sciences, iran. data were collected using the health literacy for iranian adults (helia) questionnaire as well as a questionnaire developed by the researchers. the findings suggests extracurricular studying positively correlates with reading health information, reaching health information, and using health information for the respondents of the present study; there was also a meaningful difference between extracurricular reading habits and health literacy of respondents; however, extracurricular studying and their appraisal of health information did not positively correlate; furthermore, the internet was the first source of information for the respondents. these results may direct health policy makers attention to the health literacy concerns that medical students need and the ways that they immediately hang on to reach information.