Hemşirelik Öğrencilerinin Özyeterlilik Algıları, Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Düzeyleri ve Etkileyen Faktörler.

Background: Self-efficacy and health literacy levels of nursing students are very important in terms of accessing, understanding, evaluating and applying health-related information. The aim of this study is to examine nursing students' perceptions of general self-efficacy, health literacy and influencing factors. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the nursing department of a public university between 01-11 November 2022. The population of the descriptive study consisted of 627 students and the sample consisted of 519 (82.7%) students. The data were collected by face-to-face interview technique. Introductory information form prepared by the researchers, General Proficiency Scale and Health Literacy Scale were used as data collection tools. In the analysis of the data, descriptive statistics, t test for independent groups, Mann Whitney U Test, Analysis of Variance, Kruskal Wallis Analysis and Correlation Analysis were performed. Before starting the study, permission was obtained from the ethics committee, the institution and the participants. Results: The average age of the students is 21.10±2.59, 70.5% of them are women and 63% of them have less income than their expenses. 51.3% of the participants stated that they perceive their health at a moderate level, 7.9% have a chronic disease, 4.4% have mental problems, 13.1% smoke, 19.5% drink alcohol, 74.2% do regular exercise. The students' general self-efficacy scale mean score was 52.07±3.18, and the health literacy scale mean score was 102.94 ± 16.95. Self-efficacy scale mean score (t=2.695, p=.007) and health literacy scale mean score (t=4.719, p=.000) of the women participating in the study were significantly higher. Self-efficacy scale mean score (t=-2.026, p=.043) and health literacy scale mean score (t=4.496, p=.000) of the students who exercised were found to be significantly higher. A very weak and negative negative correlation was found between the general self-efficacy scale and the health literacy scale (r=.-114, p=.010). Conclusions: It is seen that the general self-efficacy perceptions and health literacy levels of the students are not at the desired level. Interventional nursing studies are recommended to increase students' general self-efficacy perceptions and health literacy levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]