MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES PLUS

Keywords included in the search strategy were: To find appropriate keywords related to health literacy field, we searched Medical Subject Headings and referred to prior literature in this topic. To have accurate results, based on our aims of this study, we defined location: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon and Oman as Middle Eastern countries and limited the variable of year to decay from 2005 to 2014. Finally, in the fifth section, references of this paper are presented. The second section describes methodology and in the third and fourth parts findings and conclusion are mentioned respectively. The first one introduces introduction to the topic, explains the subject of this paper and reviews of literature. To achieve this aim, this article is organised into five sections. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the growth of scientific output that has been published on health literacy in Middle Eastern countries the past 10 years. 19 However, little research exists to understand the health literacy needs of people in the Middle East. 18īased on the study by Wikkeling-Scott and Rikard, health literacy research has only been conducted in 10 Middle Eastern countries.

A previous investigation showed that a low-income population had a lower average level of health literacy than a high-income population. To date, most evidence on the prevalence and consequences of health literacy is based on studies from high-income countries. 17 The results of this study showed that PubMed indexed most of articles on health literacy.

In the other study in this field, to find scientific outputs related to health literacy topic through 1997–2007, Bankson searched nine databases CINAHL, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Version, PubMed, SocINDEX, PsycINFO, Academic Search Premiere, Educational Resources Information Center and Library and Information Science Technology Abstracts. This proportion varied between 1.8% and 26.9% by country. Results showed that >10% of the total surveyed population had an inadequate level of health literacy. For the second time, health literacy of European people was examined. The Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Italy and France were the European countries with the highest number of published research in the field of health literacy. Findings of the mentioned research showed that the 25 European countries produced less than one-third researches in health literacy compared with the USA. They identified 13 710 and 49 523 articles that were published by European candidates and the USA, respectively.

MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES PLUS

They examined data from 25 European countries (countries with main affiliation in the European Union and the four candidate countries) plus the USA. 15 Their study covered the period of 1991–2005 and PubMed database was chosen as a source of data. Kondilis et al visualised health literacy research in Europe. 13 In fact, the growth in this field has been so rapid that the field of health literacy is becoming at risk for losing track of its own successes and failures. The recent bibliometric analysis indicated there has been increased research in the field of health literacy too. 5 Several studies have shown that limited health literacy, which is often defined as the inadequate capacity to read and understand, as well as access basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions is associated with negative health outcomes, less disease knowledge, less effective self-care behaviour and finally increased costs. 3Īccording to Schyve’s 4 view, low health literacy is one of the ‘triple threats’ to effective health communication. Thus, health literacy means more than being able to read pamphlets and make appointments. 2 It implies the achievement of a level of knowledge, personal skills and confidence to take action to improve personal and community health by changing personal lifestyles and living conditions.

2 According to the WHO definition, health literacy represents the cognitive and social skills that determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access, understand and use information in ways that promote and maintain good health. 1 This term was first used in the USA and Canada, but nowadays it is an international concept in which each country has official definitions of health literacy. Health literacy is a widely used term that encompasses a range of descriptions.

Middle eastern countries