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Background: Relatively little knowledge is available to date about health literacy among the general population in Europe. It is important to gain insights into health literacy competences among the general population, as this might contribute to more effective health promotion and help clarify socio-economic disparities in health. This paper is part of the European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU). It aims to add to the body of theoretical knowledge about health literacy by measuring perceived difficulties with health information in various domains of health, looking at a number of competences. The definition and measure of health literacy is still topic of debate and hardly any instruments are available that are applicable for the general population. The objectives were to obtain an initial measure of health literacy in a sample of the general population in the Netherlands and to relate this measure to education, income, perceived social status, age, and sex. Methods: The HLS-EU questionnaire was administered face-to-face in a sample of 925 Dutch adults, during July 2011. Perceived difficulties with the health literacy competences for accessing, understanding, appraising and applying information were measured within the domains of healthcare, disease prevention and health promotion. Multiple linear regression analyses were applied to explore the associations between health literacy competences and education, income, perceived social status, age, and sex. Results: Perceived difficulties with health information and their association with demographic and socio-economic variables vary according to the competence and health domain addressed. Having a low level of education or a low perceived social status or being male were consistently found to be significantly related to relatively low health literacy scores, mainly for accessing and understanding health information. Conclusions: Perceived difficulties with health information vary between competences and domains of health. Health literacy competences are associated with indicators of socio-economic position and with the domain in which health information is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report focuses on the development of health literacy in two European countries, Denmark and the Netherlands. Denmark is part of the Nordic region, while the Netherlands is situated in the Western part of Europe. The report includes examples on Danish and Dutch health literacy research and lessons learned from practice. In Denmark, supported by health literacy research, health literacy developments have been advanced within some areas of practice. Health literacy advocacy initiatives promoted by the Danish Health Literacy Network and the Danish Society of Public Health provide promising perspectives for the future of health literacy in Denmark. In the Netherlands, the Dutch Health Literacy Alliance, researchers, and other relevant stakeholders are actively integrating health literacy in research and practice - both clinically and in communities. The vibrant Dutch health literacy community advocates for further national health literacy efforts to achieve governmental support.