Table 1.
The English version of European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47)
| Introduction text | On a scale from very easy to very difficult, how easy would you say it is to: | |
|---|---|---|
| Response categories | 1 Very difficult; 2 Fairly Difficult; 3 Fairly Easy; 4 Very Easy | |
| No. | HLS-EU-Q dimension | Subscale: HEALTH CARE |
| 1 a | Access | …find information about symptoms of illnesses that concern you? |
| 2 | …find information on treatments of illnesses that concern you? | |
| 3 a | …find out what to do in case of a medical emergency? | |
| 4 | …find out where to get professional help when you are ill? (Instructions: such as doctor, pharmacist, psychologist) |
|
| 5 | Understand | …understand what your doctor says to you? |
| 6 a | …understand the leaflets that come with your medicine? | |
| 7 a | …understand what to do in a medical emergency? | |
| 8 | …understand your doctor’s or pharmacist’s instructions on how to take a prescribed medicine? | |
| 9 | Appraise | …judge how information from your doctor applies to you? |
| 10 | …judge the advantages and disadvantages of different treatment options? | |
| 11 a | …judge when you may need to get a second opinion from another doctor? | |
| 12 a |
…judge if the information about illness in the media is reliable?
(Instructions: TV, Internet or other media) |
|
| 13 | Apply | …use information the doctor gives you to make decisions about your illness? |
| 14 | …follow the instructions on medication? | |
| 15 | …call an ambulance in an emergency? | |
| 16 | …follow instructions from your doctor or pharmacist? | |
| Subscale: DISEASE PREVENTION | ||
| 17 | Access | …find information about how to manage unhealthy behaviour such as smoking, low physical activity and drinking too much? |
| 18 a | …find information on how to manage mental health problems like stress or depression? | |
| 19 | …find information about vaccinations and health screenings that you should have? (Instructions: breast exam, blood sugar test, blood pressure) |
|
| 20 | …find information on how to prevent or manage conditions like being overweight, high blood pressure or high cholesterol? | |
| 21 | Understand | …understand health warnings about behaviour such as smoking, low physical activity and drinking too much? |
| 22 | …understand why you need vaccinations? | |
| 23 a |
…understand why you need health screenings?
(Instructions: breast exam, blood sugar test, blood pressure) |
|
| 24 | Appraise | …judge how reliable health warnings are, such as smoking, low physical activity and drinking too much? |
| 25 | …judge when you need to go to a doctor for a check-up? | |
| 26 | …judge which vaccinations you may need? | |
| 27 | …judge which health screenings you should have? (Instructions: breast exam, blood sugar test, blood pressure) |
|
| 28 a |
…judge if the information on health risks in the media is reliable?
(Instructions: TV, Internet or other media) |
|
| 29 | Apply | …decide if you should have a flu vaccination? |
| 30 | …decide how you can protect yourself from illness based on advice from family and friends? | |
| 31 | …decide how you can protect yourself from illness based on information in the media? (Instructions: Newspapers, leaflets, Internet or other media?) |
|
| Subscale: HEALTH PROMOTION | ||
| 32 | Access | …find information on healthy activities such as exercise, healthy food and nutrition? |
| 33 a |
…find out about activities that are good for your mental well-being?
(Instructions: meditation, exercise, walking, pilates etc.) |
|
| 34 a |
…find information on how your neighborhood could be more health-friendly?
(Instructions: Reducing noise and pollution, creating green spaces, leisure facilities) |
|
| 35 a |
…find out about political changes that may affect health?
(Instructions: legislation, new health screening programmes, changing of government, restructuring of health services etc.) |
|
| 36 a | …find out about efforts to promote your health at work? | |
| 37 | Understand | …understand advice on health from family members or friends? |
| 38 | …understand information on food packaging? | |
| 39 | …understand information in the media on how to get healthier? (Instructions: Internet, newspapers, magazines) |
|
| 40 | …understand information on how to keep your mind healthy | |
| 41 | Appraise | …judge where your life affects your health and well-being? (Instructions: Your community, your neighbourhood) |
| 42 a | …judge how your housing conditions help you to stay healthy? | |
| 43 | …judge which everyday behavior is related to your health? (Instructions: Drinking and eating habits, exercise etc.) |
|
| 44 | Apply | …make decisions to improve your health? |
| 45 | …join a sports club or exercise class if you want to? | |
| 46 a |
…influence your living conditions that affect your health and wellbeing?
(Instructions: Drinking and eating habits, exercise etc.) |
|
| 47 a | …take part in activities that improve health and well-being in your community? | |
aItems tested with specific probes are shown in bold. HLS-EU-Q dimensions are not shown to the respondents