%0 Journal Article
%T Understanding health literacy in men: a cross-sectional survey.
%A Mursa R
%A Patterson C
%A McErlean G
%A Halcomb E
%J BMC Public Health
%V 24
%N 1
%D 2024 Jul 6
%M 38971741
%F 4.135
%R 10.1186/s12889-024-19223-0
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Males have a shorter life expectancy than females. Men are less likely to seek the advice of a health professional or utilise preventive health services and programs. This study seeks to explore health literacy and the characteristics affecting this among Australian men.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Four hundred and thirty-one adult males engaged with the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, completed an online cross-sectional survey, undertaken from September - November 2022. The survey tool captured demographic data, health status and lifestyle risk characteristics. Health literacy was measured using the 44-item Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ). Descriptive statistics, frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations, were used to describe the sample. Interferential statistics, including the Mann-Whitney U Test and the Kruskal-Wallis Test, were used to explore differences between demographics and HLQ scales.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>For the first 5 scales (4-point Likert scale), the lowest score was seen for 'Appraisal of health information' (Mean 2.81; SD 0.52) and the highest score was seen for 'Feeling understood and supported by healthcare providers ' (Mean 3.08; SD 0.64). For the other 4 scales (5-point Likert scale), the lowest score was seen for 'Navigating the healthcare system' (Mean 3.74; SD 0.69). The highest score was seen for 'Understand health information well enough to know what to do' (Mean 4.10; SD 0.53). Age, income level and living in an urban/rural location were significantly related to health literacy scales.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>This study provides new insight into men's health literacy and the factors impacting it. This knowledge can inform future strategies to promote men's engagement with health services and preventive care.