| Abstract | Cilj istraživanja: Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi razliku u sposobnosti roditelja hospitalizirane djece i ambulantno liječene djece da kritički procijene zdravstvene tvrdnje.
Materijali i metode: Za procjenu sposobnosti koristili smo validirani test koji je sastavljen u sklopu Informed Health Choices projekta te smo proveli prospektivno, presječno istraživanje na odjelu pedijatrije KBC-a Split i dječje poliklinike KBC-a u periodu od prosinca 2023. do svibnja 2024. godine. Statističkim testovima su utvrđeni demografski parametri koji su doveli do značajne razlike u riješenosti testa.
Rezultati: Testom je ukupno obuhvaćeno 636 roditelja, od čega 391 roditelja hospitalizirane djece i 245 roditelja ambulantno liječene djece. Prosječno, ispitanici su pokazali jako dobru razinu zdravstvene pismenosti te je medijan (IQR) zbirno svih ispitanika bio 13,0 (11,0 – 14,0). Statistički značajna razlika u riješenosti testa između ove dvije skupine nije uočena. Od ukupnog broja ispitanika, njih 523 su bile žene i 107 muškaraca. Nije se pokazala razlika u procijeni između majki i očeva. Ipak, uočeno je kako razina obrazovanja korelira s uspješnosti na testu na način da visoko obrazovani ostvaruju bolje rezultate i to 13,0 (12,0 – 15,0) među onima s diplomskim studijem naspram onih sa srednjom školom koji su imali riješenost 12,0 (10,0 – 13,0). Osim same razine obrazovanja, važnu ulogu igra i područje zanimanja u smislu da oni biomedicinske struke pokazuju bolje sposobnosti kritičke procijene zdravstvenih tvrdnji od ostalih i to; 13,0 (11,8 – 15,8) prema 12,5 (10,0 – 14,0). Drugi statistički značajni utjecaji nisu pronađeni.
Zaključak: U smislu zdravstvene pismenosti, velika pažnja se pridaje roditeljima, a posebice onima koji zbog bolesti djeteta, doživljavaju veliki pritisak da donesu ispravne odluke, rukovode zdravstvenom skrbi i poznaju sve protokole liječenja njihova djeteta u moru pogrešnih informacija koje su danas prisutne. Naše istraživanje je pokazalo kako njih gotovo 75% posjeduje prolaznu razinu zdravstvene pismenosti od čega 25% izvrsnu. Ipak, pokazali smo kako određene demografske karakteristike utječu na sposobnost kritičke procijene zdravstvenih tvrdnji. |
| Abstract (english) | Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the level of critical health literacy among parents of hospitalized children and clinically treated children as well as other determinants.
Materials and methods: Using a validated questionnaire developed as part of Informed Health Choices project, we conducted a prospective cross – sectional study at the Paediatrics Department and Paediatrics polyclinic in the Split University Hospital from December 2023 to May 2024. The test assessed the parental ability to understand the key concepts of health literacy and later we compared the test results with the demographic characteristics of their own as of their child.
Results: We collected a total of 636 questionnaires, out of which 391 were parents of hospitalized children and 245 parents of clinically treated children. On average, the participants showed very good level of health literacy and the mean (IQR) of all gathered participants was 13.0 out of total 18 (11.0 – 14.0). Statistically, there was no significant differences among the two observed groups. However, there were some demographic characteristics which influenced the total test result such as the level of education, professional field and monthly income. Participants with better education had better results, the ones with master’s degree had total of 13.0 (12.0 – 15.0) compared to the ones with high school who scored 12.0 (10.0 – 13.0). Professionals in the biomedical field also had better test results. Other significant differences were not noticed.
Conclusion: In the context of health literacy, parents of sick kids often come to spotlight due to high expectations they face to make all the right decisions, handle medical care and know all medical treatment and protocol their child is going through while navigating through seemingly endless and contradictory virtual information. Our research showed how almost 75% possesses satisfying level of health literacy and 25% of the same group shows excellent levels. However, there are differences among the parents depending on various demographic characteristics, suggesting of particular groups which are at high risk of inadequate health literacy. |
