Effect evaluation of using WeChat public platform on health literacy intervention among college students

Objective To understand the intervention effect of Wechat public platform on health literacy intervention,and to provide a reference for enriching the technology and methods of health education among college students.Methods One medical college and one non-medical college were selected from Nanjing,and one major from each school,then the classes of first grade in each major were randomly divided into intervention group(232) and control group(231) to have questionnaries,and education intervention on health literacy via WeChat was conducted in the intervention group.Results The average scores of health literacy and dimensions of health knowledge,health behavior,health skill and health status in intervention group were(72.97±11.65) (28.51± 5.79) (23.25±6.45) (14.18 ± 2.94) (7.03 ± 2.90),respectively.The average scores of health literacy and dimensions were improved(P<0.05).Significant differences were found between the intervention group and the control group in health literacy scores and dimensions of health knowledge,health behavior,health skill(P<0.05).Changes were perceived among the proportion of high,low and marginal health literacy level,with the proportion of high literacy rising to 52.6%,marginal health literacy falling to 33.2%,and low health literacy declining to 14.2%.Significant differences were also found between the intervention group and the control group in proportion of the different level of health literacy(P<0.05).Conclusion WeChat public platform is an effective intervention approach to improve college students' health literacy level and develop the diverse approach of health education,which may provide suggestions to the health literacy intervention among college students.