The general health literacy among health professionals – a secondary data analysis of the HLS19-AT

Abstract Background The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to promote global health and well-being by 2030 through targeted efforts in health promotion, prevention, and disease management. In the Shanghai Declaration, the World Health Organization (WHO) identifies health literacy (HL) as a key determinant of health. HL in the general Austrian population is low according to HLS19-AT. Health professionals play a crucial role in promoting HL in the general population, yet their own HL levels-and the extent to which they vary-remain insufficiently explored. Methods Therefore, the present study aimed to address this research gap through secondary data analyses of the HLS19-AT. Linear regression analyses were computed to assess the contribution of education or training in the healthcare sector to the level of general HL and to compare levels of HL between health professionals and the general Austrian population. Results The findings of the study indicate that 34.3% of individuals with health sector education demonstrate inadequate or problematic HL. Approximately 40% achieved a sufficient level, and 25.7% reached a very good level. No statistically significant differences were observed between individuals with and without health sector education. Compared to individuals without, individuals with an educational background in the healthcare sector had no significantly higher general HL (B 0.06 95%CI -1.69;1.82; R2=0.00). Conclusions Despite their educational background, a considerable proportion of health professionals in Austria demonstrate limited HL. The levels observed in this group do not differ significantly from those seen in the general population. The findings of this study underscore the necessity of implementing targeted strategies to enhance HL, including within the professional health workforce. Key messages • Health professionals in Austria demonstrate inadequate levels of health literacy. • These findings emphasise the necessity of strategies to enhance health literacy among health professionals.