Purpose: This study aimed to provide a descriptive review of health literacy competency questionnaires and to identify their attributes for developing a health literacy competency measurement tool to be used by Korean health professionals.Methods: A literature review was conducted through a search in international and Korean databases (PubMed, CINAHL, RISS, and KISS) for articles published between 2010 and 2024. A total of 2,200 articles were explored, out of which 6 studies met the inclusion criteria.Results: In Canada, an initial set of health literacy competency questionnaires was developed; subsequently, two questionnaires were developed in China and Brazil. Another study was translated using the initial Canadian study questionnaires, and two studies were modified. All six studies meeting the inclusion criteria employed a Delphi process involving 20~41 expert panels. Among the six studies, only one reported the psychometric properties of the questionnaires used. The reviewed questionnaires comprised knowledge, attitude, skills, and practice domains based on Bloom’s taxonomy. Knowledge and skills were commonly included factors in the questionnaires.Conclusion: There were 17 knowledge, 10 attitude, 13 skills, and 13 practice attributes for each area of the reviewed questionnaires. “Easy-to-read materials,” “plain language,” and “teach-back” were identified as appropriate attributes for measuring health literacy competencies. Among the questionnaires, there were many items and many overlapping items between the domains. Further studies are required to refine their essential attributes and to verify the instruments’ psychometric properties in order to increase their feasibility.

Soo Jin Kang

A literature review of health literacy competency for health professionals

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