Background. Health information and health systems have become increasingly complex. It is important for healthcare providers understand how level of health literacy affects the process of deliver health care. And at same time is important evaluate the level of Health Literacy not only for research study but in daily clinical practice.  The Health professional and the health system have to develop strategies that can be used to address and assess individual health literacy and the health literacy environment. Based on a literature review and theoretical study  on health literacy, health information seeking (online-offline) and connected behavior. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a  new comprehensive short  instrument (5-items)  to measure Health Literacy levels and connected behavior on information seeking (online-offline), linked on Health Literacy & Information model.  The goal is to have a simple tool useful for inclusion in nursing record and assess to content and face validities and reliability of this instrument.

Result. The participants of the study was a sample (n = 958 - compliance: 92%) of patients (n= 497) and caregivers (n=451) that stayed in general surgical or medical units of one of largest italian largest hospital of Italy and responded to the nurse that administered instrument during hospitalization with caregiver’s presence during visit hours in hospital wards. This research examined the factorial validity, internal consistency, and predictive validity of scores from one measure of Health Literacy & Information Scale in Italy. A one-factor model showed good fit as well as factorial invariance between females and males and for patient and caregivers. Content Validity Index of 0.98 and internal consistency estimates for this 5-item scale is higher than 0.91 in both samples. Significative correlation was found with age, information seeking, religion habits and education level. Results suggest psychometric strength and theoretical coherence of the instrument.

Conclusion. The Health Literacy & Information Scale developed in Italian appear as a good indicator of health literacy levels, simple to administrate respect  complex and longer measurement instruments of Health Literacy. It is a useful instrument for stable use in the nursing/health professional practice and clinical documentation.