Development and Validation of a Tool for Measuring Health-Related Media Literacy (HRML) Among Adolescents and Adults

Background and Objectives: With the proliferation of media platforms as primary sources of health information, evaluating individuals' ability to effectively use these resources is crucial. This study aimed to develop and validate a reliable and valid assessment tool for measuring HRML.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in ۲۰۲۳, which involved two phases: tool development and validation. An initial draft of the HRML assessment tool was created, encompassing items assessing four key skill domains: Search and Acquire, Understanding, Appraisal, and Applying. Face and content validity were assessed through expert review by ۱۳ health professionals familiar with health and media literacy. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to examine the interrelationships among the four dimensions and establish item-domain relationships. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) evaluated model fit. Reliability was assessed by administering the questionnaire to ۲۰۳ healthcare service users in Boyer-Ahmad County, and internal consistency was determined using Cronbach's alpha. Results: The final questionnaire comprised ۲۸ items across four domains of skills: searching and acquiring, understanding, appraising, and applying. The average content validity ratio (CVR) was ۰.۸۸۹, and the average content validity index (CVI) was ۰.۹۹۱. All four HRML dimensions showed significant positive correlations (p < ۰.۰۱). CFA indicated acceptable model fit (CMIN/DF = ۱.۴۳, AGFI = ۰.۸۳۰, RMSEA = ۰.۰۴۰, CFI = ۰.۹۰۳, IFI = ۰.۹۰۵). Cronbach's alpha for the overall scale was ۰.۸۲۰.Conclusion: Effective health communication is crucial for the success of health interventions. This validated HRML assessment tool can identify areas for improvement in individuals' media literacy skills and determine preferred media sources. This information can inform the development of targeted interventions to promote informed health decision-making in individuals and communities. The tool is suitable for use in various settings, including educational institutions, workplaces, service centers, and community spaces.

کلیدواژه ها:

Development and Validation ، Health Literacy ، media literacy ، Questionnaire