Sense of security during COVID-19 isolation improved with better health literacy – A cross-sectional study

To assess sense of security, health literacy, and the association between sense of security and health literacy during COVID-19 self-isolation. In this cross-sectional survey all adults who caught COVID-19 from the onset of the pandemic until June 2020 in Iceland and received surveillance from a special COVID-19 outpatient clinic, were eligible. Participants retrospectively answered the Sense of Security in Care – Patients' Evaluation and the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire. Data were analysed with parametric and non-parametric tests. Participants’ (N = 937, 57% female, median age 49 (IQR=23)) sense of security during isolation was Med 5.5 (IQR=1) and 90% had sufficient health literacy. The proposed regression model (R2 =.132) indicated that those with sufficient health literacy had, on average, higher sense of security than those with inadequate health literacy. Sense of security was high among individuals who received surveillance from an outpatient clinic during isolation and was associated with health literacy. The high health literacy rate may be an indication of a high COVID-19 specific health literacy rather than general health literacy. Healthcare professionals can improve the sense of security of patients through measures to improve their health literacy, including their navigation health literacy, by practising good communication, and providing effective patient education. •High sense-of security during COVID-19 isolation may have been supported by hospital-based patient surveillance.•There was an association between patient’s health literacy and their sense of security.•Health literacy may be situation-bound and changing, depending on the patients’.•Health literacy is of paramount importance during pandemics.