Seyed Mohammad Hashemi-Shahri, Mohammad Khammarnia, Alireza Ansari-Moghaddam, Fatemeh Setoodehzadeh, Hassan Okati-Aliabad, Mostafa Peyvand,
Volume 34, Issue 1 (2-2020)
Abstract
Background: In the 21st century, the world has become a global village and a disease outbreak in one part of the world can spread rapidly to other countries far away.
Methods: The emergence of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) in China in January 2020 and its growing level of spread and severity between and within other countries as well as different continents has become a global emergency. Moreover, low health literacy results in more problems and continuation of the outbreak. Consequently, COVID-19 pandemic may produce new debates, discussions, and disturbing developments every day. In the meantime, cyberspace plays an important role in this case.
Results: Improving people's health literacy can lead to increased potential of patients to make informed decisions, reduce health risks, increase disease prevention, and improve quality of life.
Conclusion: The experience during COVID-19 pandemic has shown that health literacy plays an important role in preventing and controlling diseases and pandemic.
