BMC public health
Psychometric properties of the European health literacy survey questionnaire short-short form (HLS-EU-Q6) among Slovenian youth, adults, and older adults
By Kirbiš A, Branilović S, Vrdelja M and 1 others.
Abstract
Background
Health literacy is an important determinant of health behaviours and self-rated health, making brief, valid, and reliable assessment tools essential. The six-item European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q6) has rarely been validated across age groups and has not been validated in Slovenia. This study evaluated its validity and reliability among youth, adults, and older adults.
Methods
Data were drawn from the Health Literacy of Adults in Slovenia survey (HLS-SI19; N = 3,360), including youth (18-30 years), adults (31-64 years), and older adults (65 + years). Construct validity was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis and Item Response Theory (Samejima's Graded Response Model); convergent, discriminant, concurrent, concurrent-predictive, and predictive (criterion-related) validity, together with internal reliability, were assessed using correlations and hierarchical regression analyses.