Makassar, Indonesia July 08 2026/PMN-RG/ – In today’s complex healthcare world, understanding health information is not always easy even for educated individuals. Surprisingly, global data shows that only 1 in 10 adults can fully understand health information when medical terms are involved. This raises an important question: if patients struggle, are future healthcare providers fully prepared to bridge this gap?
A recent study conducted in Makassar, Indonesia, provides a hopeful answer. It reveals that professional nursing students already demonstrate strong health literacy practices an essential skill that enables them to communicate effectively, educate patients, and support better health outcomes.
Health literacy is more than just reading medical information. It is the ability to access, understand, evaluate, and use health information to make informed decisions. For nurses, this skill is critical because they are often the closest healthcare professionals to patients, acting as educators, communicators, and advocates.
The study involved 72 nursing students in their professional (clinical) stage. The findings show that students performed well across four key domains: knowledge, communication, decision-making, and interpersonal skills. As reported in the results section, the highest score was in decision-making (mean 41.11), followed by interpersonal skills and communication indicating that students are not only knowledgeable but also capable of applying their skills in real-life interactions.
Why is this important?
Because healthcare is not just about treatment it is about understanding. Patients need clear explanations, empathy, and guidance to follow medical advice. Without strong health literacy, even the best treatments can fail.
This is where education plays a transformative role.
The study highlights that students who have entered clinical practice tend to have better health literacy because they interact directly with patients. These real-world experiences help them translate theory into practice, strengthening their ability to communicate and respond to patient needs effectively.
This finding directly supports SDG 4: Quality Education, which emphasizes the importance of inclusive and effective education that prepares individuals for real-world challenges. By strengthening health literacy competencies in nursing education, institutions are not only training students—they are shaping future healthcare systems.
However, the study also emphasizes that health literacy is a dynamic skill. It cannot be learned once and forgotten. Continuous training, evaluation, and curriculum development are essential to ensure that students maintain and improve their competencies over time.
In addition, the research highlights the need for innovative teaching strategies, such as interactive learning, simulation, and communication training. These approaches can help students develop not only knowledge but also empathy and critical thinking.
In conclusion, building a healthier society starts with education. When nursing students are equipped with strong health literacy skills, they become powerful agents of change capable of improving patient understanding, promoting healthy behaviors, and strengthening healthcare systems.
Because in the end, better education does not just create better nurses it creates healthier communities.
Reference:
DOI. https://doi.org/10.53690/ihj.v5i03.561
Contact:
Dr. Yuliana Syam, S.Kp., Ns, M.Si.
+6281342012733
yulianasyam@unhas.ac.id
