Abstract
It is stated that the media is the most influential social tool on creation/shaping of health behaviors of children and adolescents. Most of the individuals that pose into the media tools are misinformed about numerous facts that are either wrong or manipulated about health, and this information adversely affects the health behaviors. In this study, a compilation was conducted with the aim of both raising the awareness of media literacy approach in health promotion concept and emphasizing that the usage of educational methods implemented in the media literacy might also be used by nurses.
TopMedia literacy is expressed as an educational tool that has been widely used in recent years and aims to protect individuals against the negative effects of the media. Its first use dates back to England in the 1930's. Canada has played a pioneering role in the development of this concept in many areas (Castellanos, 2007). Its generally accepted definition is the ability to reach, analyze, evaluate and convey messages in various ways (Aufderheide, 1993). Accessing, critically analyzing, evaluating and using the information contained in this definition constitute different dimensions of media literacy (see table 1.)
Table 1. Dimensions of Media Literacy
| Accessing information | Accessing information Accessing useful / useful information |
| Being able to analyze | Analyzing media messages using critical thinking skills (identifying the bias and credibility of a source, distinguishing the truth in an opinion, determining the true meaning in an unrealistic message) |
| Evaluating and using | Being able to evaluate the accuracy and applicability of a message |
| To be able to use the messages obtained to achieve certain goals |
| Reference (L. J. Bergsma & Carney, 2008) |
Key Terms in this Chapter
Media Literacy: Is defined as accessing the information learned from media, analyzing and assessing them in a critical manner, is considered as a school based health development strategy.
Health Promotion: Is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve their health.
School Health: Counseling, psychological, and social services that promote healthy social and emotional development and remove barriers to students' learning.