Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40819030›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

Access to healthy ınformatıon: the ınteractıon of medıa lıteracy and health lıteracy.

Hatice Mutlu, Gözde Bozkurt, Gökten Öngel, Yağmur Gümüşboğa

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Hatice MutluDepartment of Health Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Istanbul Beykent University, Cumhuriyet District, Beykent, Büyükçekmece, Istanbul, Turkey. haticemutlu@yandex.com.tr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7022-454X
Gözde BozkurtDepartment of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Istanbul Beykent University, Ayazağa District, Ayazağa, Sarıyer, Istanbul, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8413-1099
Gökten ÖngelChild Health and Diseases Department, Istanbul Education Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4165-3601
Yağmur GümüşboğaVocational School, Public Relations and Promotion, Istanbul Beykent University, Cumhuriyet District, Beykent, Büyükçekmece, Istanbul, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5055-5440

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveGrounded in the Health Belief Model (HBM) and Media System Dependency Theory (MSDT), this study examines the relationship between media literacy and health literacy in the Turkish context, where digital media plays an increasingly dominant role in disseminating health-related information. It focuses on how individuals access, evaluate, and utilize health information, analyzing the effects of media literacy sub-dimensions-access, analysis, evaluation, and communication-on health literacy levels. The study aims to determine how media-based health information influences individuals' decision-making processes and their ability to make informed health choices.

methodsA survey-based quantitative research approach was employed with 485 participants from Turkey, of which 477 valid responses were analyzed. The Turkish Health Literacy Scale (TSOY-32) measured health literacy, while the Media Literacy Skills Scale assessed media literacy. The Generalized Ordered Logit Model (GOLM) was applied to examine the effects of media literacy on health literacy.

resultsDescriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and hypothesis testing were conducted. Media literacy levels significantly influence health literacy levels (p < 0.05). The access sub-dimension increased the likelihood of improving health literacy by 1.90 times (p < 0.05). The analysis sub-dimension significantly enhanced health literacy by 2.23 times (p < 0.05). The evaluation sub-dimension had a statistically significant effect on health literacy (p < 0.05). The communication sub-dimension supports individuals in sharing health information and making informed decisions (p < 0.05). Health recommendations disseminated through media significantly impact health literacy levels (p < 0.05). Trust in media-based health information had a weak but positive correlation with health literacy (r = 0.2097, p < 0.05). Education level was positively correlated with health literacy, while income level showed no significant effect. These findings suggest that enhancing media literacy skills, particularly in access and analysis, can meaningfully improve individuals' capacity to navigate complex health information landscapes and foster more informed health behaviors.

conclusionThe study highlights the crucial role of media literacy in improving health literacy and preventing misinformation. Access and analysis skills are particularly vital in enabling individuals to obtain accurate health information and avoid misleading content. Conducted within the Turkish sociocultural context, where digital media usage is high and misinformation about health is prevalent, the findings offer valuable insights for national health promotion strategies. Policymakers and educators should integrate media literacy into educational curricula, launch public awareness campaigns to combat misinformation, and develop strategies to enhance individuals' critical thinking skills regarding health information. This study is limited by its cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data. Future research should employ longitudinal methods and explore the long-term impact of media and health literacy across different demographic groups and contexts.

Indexed as

Access to InformationHealth LiteracyMass MediaAdolescentAdultAgedDecision MakingFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesTurkeyYoung AdultGeneralized ordered logitmodelHealth literacyMedia literacy

Identifiers

PMID40819030
PMCPMC12357403

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.