title: ["So that each patient may comprehend": measuring health literacy in Hungary].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The efficiency of healing is determined by the ability of the patients to comprehend and to apply properly the information provided by the doctors. This ability is influenced by age, intelligence and social background, but above all by health literacy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to translate and adapt the Hungarian version of the Short-Test of Functional Health Literacy, which is a performance based measure and the perception-based Chew screening questions for health literacy in Hungary.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 302 people, and it was closely representative for the Hungarian population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reliability of the reading part of the Short-Test of Functional Health Literacy was excellent, and it was also acceptable regarding the Chew screening questions, but it showed low internal consistency concerning the numeracy part of the Short-Test of Functional Health Literacy. Based on the Short-Test of Functional Health Literacy reading scores, participants were categorized into three groups: 8% had inadequate, 6% marginal and 86% adequate health literacy levels. Regarding participants without a chronic illness tended to possess higher health literacy levels based on all the three measurments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The availability of these measures of health literacy in Hungary can play a crucial role in doctor-patient communication as well as health promotion, that can contribute to develop health literacy policies leading to reduced health care costs in the future.
authors.affiliation: Pszichológiai Intézet, Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Bölcsészettudományi Kar Szeged, Egyetem u. 2., 6722.
authors.forename: Orsolya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Papp-Zipernovszky
authors.affiliation: Institute of Communication and Health, Faculty of Communication Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana Lugano, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Lilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Náfrádi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Communication and Health, Faculty of Communication Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana Lugano, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.affiliation: Pszichológiai Intézet, Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Bölcsészettudományi Kar Szeged, Egyetem u. 2., 6722.
authors.forename: Márta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Csabai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: egészségfejlesztés; egészségműveltség; health literacy; health promotion; tesztvalidálás; validation studies