Due to their rapid expansion and complexity, it is increasingly difficult for patients to orient themselves in health care systems. Therefore, patients require a high degree of health literacy, or more precisely, navigation health literacy (HL-NAV). The actual extent of HL-NAV of patients and citizens is still largely unknown due to the lack of adequate measurement instruments. Thus, within the new international Health Literacy Population Survey 2019 (HLS₁₉), one aim was to develop a suitable instrument for measuring HL-NAV in the HLS₁₉ the HL-NAV-HLS19. The item development was conducted by an international working group within the HLS₁₉ Consortium led by the first and last authors. Methodologically, it is based on a scoping literature review, development of a conceptual framework for HL-NAV, and first item formation, as well as an evaluation by experts, stakeholders, focus groups, pre-test interviews, and continuously feedback from the HLS₁₉ Consortium. HL-NAV was defined as the ability to access, understand, appraise, and apply information on navigational issues, drawing on ten selected publications and the health literacy definition of the HLS-EU Consortium. Main tasks of HL-NAV at the system, organization, and interaction level were identified, to which first related items were assigned. Based on the feedback from experts, the focus group discussions, and the HLS₁₉ Consortium, the instrument was slightly revised. Finally, twelve items proved to be feasible in the pre-test. The instrument will be used for the first time in the HLS₁₉ survey and will provide first data on HL-NAV in general populations for the countries participating in HLS₁₉. It is suited for cross-country comparisons and monitoring, as well as for intervention development. However, the instrument should be translated into and validated in further languages and countries for population samples.

Studies have shown that the health literacy of the German population is low. The aim of this article is to analyze current developments in health literacy on the basis of recent data. The Health Literacy Survey Germany 2 (HLS-GER 2) is a representative quantitative survey of the German-speaking resident population of Germany aged 18 and above. It was carried out in December 2019 and January 2020 by paper-assisted personal oral interview (PAPI). Data on health literacy and sociodemographic characteristics were acquired with an internationally coordinated questionnaire. The instrument for measuring general health literacy consisted of 47 questions that reflect an individual’s ability to access, understand, appraise, and apply health-related information. The associations between general health literacy and sociodemographic factors were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate statistical tests. 58.8% of the participants had low health literacy, characterized by rating at least one-third of the questions as “difficult” or “very difficult.” Many respondents stated that they had difficulties accessing (48.3%), understanding (47.7%), and applying (53.5%) information, and even more of them (74.7%) reported difficulties appraising information. The correlation coefficients reveal that health literacy is weakly associated with the following variables: age, sex, social status, literacy, level of education, financial deprivation, migration background, and the presence of one or more chronic diseases. The findings of the HLS-GER 2 highlight the need for action in promoting health literacy in the healthcare system. As the explanation of variance is low, there are presumably other important determinants of health literacy that were not taken into account. Further studies should be performed to investigate societal conditions of supplying health information, for example, or social and personal characteristics.

Ziel Durch die Digitalisierung gewinnen digitale Informationen zum Thema Gesundheit zunehmend an Bedeutung. Neben vielfältigen Chancen bringt diese Entwicklung auch Herausforderungen mit sich, denn mit dem wachsenden Angebot steigt zugleich der Bedarf an digitaler Gesundheitskompetenz (DGK). Im nachfolgenden Beitrag werden das Ausmaß der DGK in der Bevölkerung in Deutschland, zentrale Determinanten der DGK und Folgen für die Nutzung digitaler gesundheitsbezogener Informationsangebote analysiert. Methodik Die Analyse basiert auf Daten des zweiten Health Literacy Survey Germany (HLS-GER 2), bestehend aus einer repräsentativen Stichprobe mit n=2151. Die Erfassung der DGK, der Determinanten sowie der Nutzung digitaler gesundheitsbezogener Informationsangebote erfolgte mit einem im Rahmen der internationalen Vergleichsstudie HLS₁₉ erarbeiteten Fragebogens. Es wurden bivariate und multivariate Analysen durchgeführt. Ergebnisse Insgesamt verfügen 75,8% der Bevölkerung über eine geringe DGK. Vor allem geringe literale Fähigkeiten, ein höheres Alter, eine niedrige Bildung sowie ein niedriger Sozialstatus gehen mit einer geringen DGK einher. Die multivariate Analyse weist zudem auf einen starken Zusammenhang zwischen DGK und allgemeiner Gesundheitskompetenz (GK) hin. Geringe DGK ist folgenreich und führt zu einer geringeren Nutzung digitaler gesundheitsbezogener Informationsangebote. Schlussfolgerung Die Ergebnisse unterstreichen die Wichtigkeit der Förderung von DGK der Bevölkerung und besonders von Gruppen mit geringer DGK. Entsprechende Bemühungen sollten die allgemeine GK einbeziehen, denn sie steht in engem Zusammenhang mit der DGK. Auch um die noch geringe Nutzung digitaler Informationsangebote in Deutschland zu erhöhen und generell, um der zunehmenden Digitalisierung des Gesundheitswesens zu entsprechen, stellt die Stärkung der DGK eine gesellschaftlich wichtige Aufgabe dar. Aim While the availability and variety of digital information on health offers a range of opportunities, they also pose a number of challenges, because the need for digital health literacy (DHL) is increasing along with the growing range of information possibilities. The aim of this study was to analyze the extent of DHL in the German population, key determinants, and consequences for the use of digital health information resources. Methodology The analysis was based on data from the Second Health Literacy Survey Germany (HLS-GER 2), consisting of a representative sample of n=2,151. A questionnaire developed as part of the international comparative study HLS₁₉ was used to measure DHL, its determinants, and the use of digital health information resources. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. Results Overall, 75.8% of the population had low DHL. In particular, low literacy skills, older age, a lower level of education and social status were associated with low DHL. Multivariate analysis also indicated a strong association between DHL and general health literacy (HL). Low DHL led to lower use of digital health information resources. Conclusion The results underscore the importance of promoting DHL in the general population and especially among groups with low DHL. Efforts in this area should include general HL, as it is closely related to DHL. Strengthening DHL is also a socially important task in order to increase the still low use of digital health information resources in Germany and, in general, to meet the increasing digitalization of the health care system. Article published online: 14 December 2021 © 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

Objectives: People with chronic illness are particularly dependent on navigating and using the health care system. This requires navigational health literacy (HL-NAV). The article aims to examine the distribution and predictors of HL-NAV in a sample of chronically ill individuals. Methods: Data of 1,105 people with chronic illness from the general population in Germany were collected in December 2019 and January 2020. HL-NAV was assessed by 12 items (score 0–100). Bivariate and multiple linear regression analysis were performed. Results: HL-NAV score was 39.1 (SD 27.3). In bivariate analyses, HL-NAV was lower among chronically ill persons aged 65 or above, with low education, limited functional health literacy, low social status, financial deprivation, poor social support, multiple chronic conditions, and an illness duration of 6–10 years. In multivariate analyses, advanced age, lower education, less functional health literacy, lower social status, and less social support remained associated with lower HL-NAV. Discussion: The results underline the importance of promoting HL-NAV among people with chronic illness. Strategies should aim at strengthening individual competencies taking into account the social and situational factors but also at reducing the demands placed on chronically ill people by providing user-friendly and trustworthy information on the health care system along the illness trajectory.

To manoeuvre a complex and fragmented health care system, people need sufficient navigational health literacy (NAV-HL). The objective of this study was to validate the HLS₁₉-NAV measurement scale applied in the European Health Literacy Population Survey 2019–2021 (HLS₁₉). From December 2019 to January 2021, data on NAV-HL was collected in eight European countries. The HLS₁₉-NAV was translated into seven languages and successfully applied in and validated for eight countries, where language and survey method differed. The psychometric properties of the scale were assessed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Rasch modelling. The tested CFA models sufficiently well described the observed correlation structures. In most countries, the NAV-HL data displayed acceptable fit to the unidimensional Rasch partial credit model (PCM). For some countries, some items showed poor data–model fit when tested against the PCM, and some items displayed differential item functioning for selected person factors. The HLS₁₉-NAV demonstrated high internal consistency. To ensure content validity, the HLS₁₉-NAV was developed based on a conceptual framework. As an estimate of discriminant validity, the Pearson correlations between the NAV-HL and general health literacy (GEN-HL) scales were computed. Concurrent predictive validity was estimated by testing whether the HLS₁₉-NAV, like general HL measures, follows a social gradient and whether it forms a predictor of general health status as a health-related outcome of general HL. In some countries, adjustments at the item level may be beneficial.

Ziel Im Mittelpunkt des Artikels stehen neue Befunde zur Gesundheitskompetenz (GK), die einen Vergleich der GK der Bevölkerung in Deutschland vor dem Ausbruch der Corona-Pandemie und während ihres Anhaltens ermöglichen. Verglichen werden die allgemeine und die digitale GK. Daneben werden Veränderungen der GK in unterschiedlichen Bevölkerungsgruppen untersucht. Methodik Die Analysen basieren auf bevölkerungsrepräsentativen Querschnittsdaten, die 2019/2020 vor und 2020 während der Pandemie erhoben wurden. Dabei kam ein international weiterentwickelter und abgestimmter Fragebogen (HLS₁₉) zur Messung der GK zum Einsatz, in dem erstmals in diesem Kontext auch die digitale GK in Deutschland erhoben wurde. Verände-rungen in den Gruppen wurden bivariat analysiert. Ergebnisse Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass sich die GK der Bevölkerung in Deutschland während der Pandemie gegenüber der Zeit davor tendenziell verbessert hat. Dieser Effekt ist besonders bei der Beurteilung von Gesundheitsinformationen und der digitalen GK zu sehen. Er ist bei Frauen, Menschen mit niedriger und mittlerer Bildung, jüngeren Bevölkerungsgruppen und Personen mit eigener Migrationserfahrung besonders stark ausgeprägt. Bei älteren Personen ist keine Veränderung zu verzeichnen und bei Personen mit mehreren chronischen Erkrankungen weisen die Ergebnisse sogar auf eine Verschlechterung hin. Schlussfolgerung Die systematische Auseinandersetzung mit den klar strukturierten, häufig wiederholten Gesundheitsinformationen während der Corona-Pandemie hat in Deutschland offenbar dazu geführt, dass sich die Gesundheitskompetenz verbessert hat und der Umgang mit gesundheitsbezogenen Informationen subjektiv als weniger schwierig eingeschätzt wird. Vor allem die Kompetenz zum Umgang mit digitalen Informationen ist gestiegen. Dabei gibt es teils große Unterschiede zwischen den einzelnen Bevölkerungsgruppen. Aim The aim of this study was to compare the general and digital health literacy (HL) of the German population before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and during its persistence and to investigate different changes in population groups. Methodology The analyses are based on population representative cross-sectional data collected in 2019/2020 before and 2020 during the pandemic. An internationally coordinated questionnaire (HLS₁₉) was used. Changes in groups were analyzed bivariate. Results The results showed that the HL of the population in Germany tended to improve during the pandemic. This effect was especially evident with regard to the evaluation of health information and in the area of digital HL. Women, people with low or medium education, younger people and those with a migration background appeared to have benefited to a more than average extent. For older people, there was no change, and for those with multiple chronic conditions, the results even indicated a worsening. Conclusion The systematic exposure to clearly structured and continuously repeated health information during the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have improved the ability to process health-related information in the German population. In particular, there has been an increase in competence in dealing with digital information media, which are being increasingly used to communicate health information. However, there are some large differences between different population groups. Publication Date: 21 September 2021 (online) © 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany