Validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Health Literacy Scale Short-Form in the Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Health literacy is closely related to health status. Measuring public health literacy levels helps to warn of health status and manage health problems through timely interventions. The items of relevant evaluation tools are complex and numerous in China, and there is no recognized health literacy brief scale for the whole population. To translate the 12-item short-form health literacy scale (HLS-SF12) and test the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the HLS-SF12 in the Chinese population. METHODS: The HLS-SF12 was translated into Chinese using the procedures of translation, back translation, and cultural debugging. 10,951 residents were selected by quota sampling method to test the validity and reliability of the scale, and 33 people were selected to retest after 2 weeks. The reliability was tested by using internal consistency coefficient and test-retest reliability. The validity was tested by using confirmatory factor analysis, content validity, convergent validity and discriminant validity. RESULTS: The Cronbach's Alpha coefficient for the total scale was 0.94, and the test-retest reliability was 0.89. The Cronbach's Alpha coefficients for the three subscales of health care, disease prevention, and health promotion respectively were 0.86, 0.86, 0.87, and the test-retest reliability respectively were 0.91, 0.79, 0.63. The confirmatory factor analysis identified a three factors model and showed nice goodness of fit indices for Chinese HLS-SF12 (GFI = 0.96, CFI = 0.97, IFI = 0.97, TLI = 0.96, and RMSEA = 0.07). CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of the HLS-SF12 has good reliability and validity, and can be used as a tool to evaluate the health literacy of Chinese people.

Corrigendum: A national cross-sectional study on the influencing factors of low HPV vaccination coverage in mainland China.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1064802.].

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Sakata Eating Behavior Scale short form and preliminary analysis of the factors related to the score of the scale.

Background: The obesity rate in the Chinese population is increasing and there is a lack of short and reliable scales for measuring obesity-related eating behavior in China. The EBS-SF (Sakata Eating Behavior Scale short form) has only 7 entries and has shown good reliability in studies such as those in Japan. Objective: To translate the EBS-SF into Chinese, check its reliability, validity and explore the related factors. Method: The EBS-SF was translated into Chinese. 3,440 residents were investigated and 34 respondents were retested. Item analysis and reliability and validity tests were carried out. Personality characteristics, family health status and depression were investigated using the BFI-10, FHS-SF and PHQ-9 to investigate the factors associated with EBS-SF. The t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation was used to explore the related factors of its scores. Result: Among 3,440 residents, 1,748 (50.81%) were male and 1,692 (49.19%) were female; 1,373 (39.91%) were aged 36-50 years. All 7 items were qualified in the item analysis. As for reliability, the Cronbach's α was 0.870, the split-half reliability was 0.830, the test-retest correlation coefficient was 0.868. As for the structural validity, the standardized factor loadings were above 0.50, χ2 / df = 2.081,GFI = 0.999; NFI = 0.999; RFI = 0.996; RMSEA = 0.018, all qualified. The characteristics, personality, family health and depression were correlated with the score of the Chinese version of EBS short form. Conclusion: The structural validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the EBS-SF are good and it can be used as a measurement tool to evaluate the eating behavior of Chinese. The scores of the EBS-SF may be related to the sociological characteristics, personality, family health, and depression status.

The self-medication behaviors of residents and the factors related to the consideration of drug efficacy and safety-A cross-sectional study in China.

Background: Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs facilitates residents self-medication. However, inappropriate self-medications have become a serious problem in China and even all over the world. Objectives: To make an investigation on the current status of Chinese residents' self-medication behaviors and important considerations, and to explore the factors related to the considerations of drug efficacy and safety. Design: A quantitative, cross-sectional study. Methods: Multi-stage sampling was used to conduct a cross-sectional investigation in China 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions and 4 municipalities directly under the Central Government. State that an interviewer-administrated questionnaire, was used for data collection. The questionnaire that was used in the investigation included demographic sociological characteristics, health literacy scale-short form (HLS-SF), the 10-item Big Five Inventory (BFI-10), the EuroQol-5D visual analogue scale (EQ-5D VAS), self-medication status and important considerations when self-medicating. Descriptive statistics were performed, and the Chi-square test was used for univariate analysis. Log-binomial regression was used for multivariate analysis on whether residents regard drug efficacy or safety as an important consideration. Results: 9256 respondents were included in the data analysis. The self-medication rate of Chinese adults was as high as 99.1%. Paracetamol and other analgesics were the most common types of OTC medication that respondents purchased, followed by vitamins/minerals. Medical staff recommendations, drug safety and efficacy were the top three important considerations. The residents in the east, central and western regions who consider safety is 63.5%, 61.5%, and 66.8% respectively. The proportion of curative effect was 60.2%, 55.7%, and 61.4% respectively. Log-binomial regression showed that western respondents, retired people, those who mainly used ways including basic medical insurance for employees, commercial medical insurance, free medical treatment to cover their medical cost, respondents with high neuroticism, high health literacy were more likely to consider drug safety as an important factor (p < 0.05). Eastern respondents, employed, main way of medical expenses borne was Out-of-pocket Payment, those with chronic disease were more likely to consider drug efficacy as an important factor (p < 0.05). Female, respondents with high levels of agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness, and self-rated health status were more likely to regard both drug safety and efficacy as important considerations (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Self-medication is practiced by most Chinese adults. Whether Chinese adults take drug efficacy or safety as an important consideration is related to their demographic and sociological characteristics, Big Five personality characteristics, health literacy and self-assessed health status. There is a need to strengthen the management of OTC drugs and public education about self-medication.

A national cross-sectional study on the influencing factors of low HPV vaccination coverage in mainland China.

Background: HPV vaccine can block the infection of high-risk human papillomavirus and is an important measure to effectively reduce the incidence of cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. However, the HPV vaccination rate is still low in China. There are many factors. Therefore, it is important to study the influencing factors to provide basis for promoting the formulation of vaccination strategies. Methods: This study used a multi-stage sampling method to conduct a face-to-face questionnaire survey on women in different regions of China. The new general self-efficacy scale was used to measure the self-efficacy of the respondents. The short form of family health scale measured their family health. The t-test and binary Logistic regression analysis were used to screen the influencing factors of HPV vaccination. Restricted cubic spline model was used to analyze the influence trend of self-efficacy and family health on HPV vaccination rate. Results: (1) The HPV vaccination rate was low, especially in the ≤18 group. The place of residence, capita household income/month, individual self-efficacy and family health had a significant impact on HPV vaccination. (2) The restricted cubic spline model showed that self-efficacy positively promoted HPV vaccination, the correlation strength was statistically significant (χ2 =27.64, P<0.001) and non-linear (χ2 = 12.49, P = 0.0004); The poor family health hindered HPV vaccination, and the association strength was statistically significant (χ2 = 47.81, P < 0.001) and non-linear (χ2 = 9.96, P = 0.0016). Conclusion: It is necessary to strengthen the health education of HPV vaccination knowledge in the population to eliminate the hesitancy of vaccination. Free HPV vaccination strategies should be developed and encourage people of appropriate age to receive as early as possible. Self-efficacy and family health should be enhanced to increase HPV vaccination rate, so as to achieve the goal of reducing the incidence of cervical cancer and protecting women's health.

The current status and factors related to the preparation of home first-aid kits in China.

Background: Home first-aid kits can play an important role when residents are injured, suddenly become seriously ill or suffer from disasters. Purpose: To explore the home first-aid kit preparedness of Chinese residents and the relationship between demographic sociological characteristics, self-efficacy, Big Five personality, health literacy and home first-aid kit preparation behavior. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Information was collected through a self-designed questionnaire consisting of sociological characteristics, the New General Self-Efficacy Scale (NGSES), the Health Literacy Scale Short-Form (HLS-SF12), and the 10-item short version of Big Five Inventory (BFI-10). Rank sum test, Chi-square test, and logistic regression were used to explore the relationship between independent variables and home first-aid kit preparation behavior. Results: A total of 9,344 respondents were included, and 2,156 (23.07%) prepared home first-aid kits. Among the respondents who had prepared their home first-aid kits, disinfection supplies (85.20%), medical masks (84.51%), commonly used drugs (82.79%) were the most frequently available. The respondents whose geographic area was Central and Western China, permanent residence in the urban area, secondary education or above, monthly income of 3,000 RMB or above, health care cost-bearing method mainly resident health insurance, high subgroup of self-efficacy, high subgroup of health care dimension in health literacy, and whose openness and conscientiousness was high subgroup were more likely to prepare home first-aid kits (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The preparation rate for home first-aid kits in China is less than a quarter. The public's home first-aid kit preparation behavior is related to demographic characteristics, self-efficacy, health literacy, and the openness of the Big Five personality. A multi-level linked national emergency literacy education system should be established to enhance the residents' attention to home first-aid kits and improve the residents' ability to prevent emergencies.

Self-medication in Chinese residents and the related factors of whether or not they would take suggestions from medical staff as an important consideration during self-medication.

Objective: To investigate the status of Chinese residents' self-medication behavior and the important factors to consider when purchasing OTC drugs, and to explore the related factors of the possibility that Chinese residents take medical staff's suggestions as important factors to consider when purchasing OTC drugs. Study design: A cross-sectional survey. Methods: A questionnaire was developed for exploring the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents, their self-medication status, and important considerations. The questionnaire includes several scales including Health Literacy Scale-Short Form (HLS-SF), EQ-5D Visual Analog Scale (EQ-5D-VAS), Big Five Inventary-10 Items (BFI-10), and New General Self Efficacy Scale (NGSES). After carrying out a multi-stage sampling method, the questionnaire was conducted nationwide from July 10 to September 15, 2021. Next, descriptive statistics were conducted to analyze the general features. Logistic regression was then used to analyze the related factors of the possibility that the respondents took the suggestions of medical staff as an important consideration when purchasing OTC drugs. Results: Nine thousand two hundred fifty-six qualified questionnaires were received. 99.06% of Chinese adults had self-medication behaviors. The types of OTC drugs purchased most by the respondents were NSAIDs (5,421/9,256 people, 58.57%) and vitamins/minerals (4,851/9,256 people, 52.41%). 86.2% of the respondents took the suggestions of medical staff as an important consideration when purchasing OTC drugs. The results of multi-factor logistic regression showed that women, those living in the central and western regions of China, those suffering from chronic diseases, those with high agreeableness, high conscientiousness, high neuroticism and openness, high health literacy, high EQ-5D-VAS, and those with high self-efficacy are more likely to take medical staff's suggestions as important factors to consider. Conclusion: The vast majority of Chinese adults have self-medication behavior. Important considerations when purchasing OTC drugs include medical staff's suggestions, drug safety and drug efficacy. Whether residents take the suggestions of medical staff as an important consideration is related to their sociological characteristics, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, openness, health literacy, self-assessment health status, and self-efficacy. When purchasing and using OTC drugs, residents should carefully listen to the suggestions from medical staff. They should also carefully consider their own conditions before buying OTC drugs.

Self-Medication Behaviors of Chinese Residents and Consideration Related to Drug Prices and Medical Insurance Reimbursement When Self-Medicating: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Self-medication has become a common phenomenon. Economic factors are important factors that affect the self-medication of residents. This study aimed to investigate the current status of self-medication behaviors in China and explored the related factors affecting considerations associated with medical insurance reimbursement or drug price in self-medication. METHODS: A national cross-sectional investigation was conducted among Chinese people over 18 years old under a multi-stage sampling method through a questionnaire, which includes demographic sociological characteristics, self-medication behaviors and scales. The Chi-square test was used to analyze whether the respondents consider medical insurance reimbursement or drug price as an important factor when purchasing over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Logistic regression was used to examine the associated factors of considering medical insurance reimbursement or drug price. RESULTS: In total, 9256 respondents were included in this study; 37.52% of the respondents regarded drug prices as an important consideration, and 28.53% of the respondents attached great importance to medical insurance reimbursement. Elderly respondents who lived in the central region, had medical insurance, and had lower levels of health literacy were more likely to consider the medical insurance reimbursement, while respondents with high monthly family income as well as students were less likely to consider the same issue (p < 0.05). Respondents settled in the central and western regions, students, those without fixed occupations, those who suffered from chronic diseases, or those with lower health literacy were more likely to consider drug prices, while the respondents with bachelor degrees, urban population and high per capita monthly income were less likely to consider the drug prices (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Self-medication behaviors with OTC drugs were prevalent in China, and consideration factors of medical insurance reimbursement or drug prices were related to socio-demographic characteristics and health literacy. There is a need to take measures to reduce the economic burden of self-medication, improve the health literacy of residents and strengthen public health education.