Nursing students’ health literacy skills: A scoping review for driving research

Aim

The aim of this study was to systematically map the research conducted on health literacy skills in nursing students across all years of the bachelor's degree program, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in this crucial field.

Background

Prior studies have highlighted the inadequacy and inconsistency of Health Literacy content in nursing curricula, emphasizing the pressing need for comprehensive research on effective methods and procedures to improve understanding of this subject.

Review methods

Utilizing Arksey and O'Malley's framework, we conducted a scoping review. A systematic search was performed by four researchers across multiple electronic databases, including MEDLINE (via PubMed), the Education Resources Information Centre (ERIC), CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), and Google Scholar. The protocol was registered with the Open Science Framework (OSF) on April 20, 2023 (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/CN8D7).

Results

Inclusion criteria led to the selection of 30 studies. Various research areas emerged, such as the effectiveness of didactical strategies in promoting Health Literacy skills, the analysis of Health Literacy skill levels, Health Literacy skills as predictors of healthy behaviors, and nursing students' experiences in clinical settings regarding Health Literacy skills. The HL skills in nursing student was assessed with many different instruments.

Conclusions

Further investigation and development of Health Literacy skills among nursing students are crucial. Analyzing patients' opinions on nursing students' performance during clinical placements and comparing nursing program curricula, including didactical strategies and Health Literacy skills assessment methods, can offer valuable insights into their impact on student learning outcomes.

Implications for Nursing & Health Policy

This review emphasize the critical need for collaborative efforts between policymakers, educators, and healthcare professionals to enhance HL education in nursing programs and inform policies that promote the integration of HL skills into nursing practice.

Patient and public involvement

Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) were not included in this project as it is a literature review and did not involve direct participation from patients or the public.