MEDICAL LITERACY DEVELOPMENT OF ADULT POPULATION IN SLOVAKIA AND UKRAINE

Abstract

Introduction. The diagnosis results of medical literacy levels among different groups of adult population in Slovakia are given in this article. This research was done by the scientists of Pedagogy Department, Philosophy Faculty, Comenius University in Bratislava, together with Ukrainian colleagues. The aim of research. The objective of the article was aimed at studying the specifics of medical literacy development in European countries and making a comparative research analysis for determining the levels of medical literacy among adult population in Slovakia and Ukraine and making up the recommendations. Materials and methods. The diagnostic surveying of adults was made according to the modification of European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS_EU_Q47), which was offered to the respondents to fill out in the format of a Google form. The methodological approaches used in the study are as follows: andragogical, competency-based, cultural, person-centered, and systems-based. Results. The majority of the respondents in the European countries were found to have the insufficient level of medical literacy. In Slovakia, the youth aged 18-24 turned out to be more active and conscious of health issues. It was specified that the comprehensive study of medical literacy issues among adults was not carried out in Ukraine at all. Positively estimating the research experience of medical literacy levels among adult population in Slovakia, it is worthwhile to single out the progressive ideas of its implementation in an area of support, maintenance and restoration of health for adults in Ukraine. The recommendations were made up for increasing medical literacy of different groups of adult population at the national and regional levels as well as at the level of healthcare and educational institutions and universities. Conclusions. The research results of medical literacy among adult population can be recommended to the representatives of governmental institutions, universities, healthcare institutions so as to update legislation, prepare teaching and methodological materials for universities and postgraduate education.