Use of the English Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) with Health Science University Students in Nepal: A Validity Testing Study

Abstract

Research evidence shows that health literacy development is a key factor influencing non-communicable diseases care and patient outcomes. Healthcare professionals with strong health literacy skills are essential for providing quality care. We aimed to report the validation testing of the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) among health professional students in Nepal. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 419 health sciences students using the HLQ in Nepal. Validation testing and reporting were conducted using five sources outlined by ‘the 2014 Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing’. The average difficulty was lowest (17.4%) for Scale 4. Social support for health, and highest (51.9%) for Scale 6. Ability to actively engage with healthcare providers. One factor Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) model showed a good fit for Scale 2, Scale 7 and Scale 9 and a reasonable fit for Scale 3 and Scale 4. The restricted nine-factor CFA model showed a satisfactory level of fit. The use of HLQ is seen to be meaningful in Nepal and warrants translation into native Nepali and other dominant local languages with careful consideration of cultural appropriateness using cognitive interviews.