Relationship between health literacy, health status, and healthy behaviors among older adults in Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background:Health literacy is a measure of an individual's ability to read, comprehend, and act on medical instructions. Limited health literacy can reduce the adults’ ability to comprehend and use basic health-related materials, such as prescription, food labels, health education pamphlets, articles, appointment slips, and health insurance plans, which can affect their ability to take appropriate and timely health care action. Nowadays, low health literacy is considered a worldwide health threat. So, the purpose of this study was to assess health literacy level in older adults and to investigate the relationships between health literacy and health status, health care utilization, and health preventive behaviors.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional survey of 354 older adults was conducted in Isfahan. The method of sampling was clustering. Health literacy was measured using the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA). Data were collected using home interviewing. Health status was measured based on self-rated general health. Health care utilization was measured based on self-reported outpatient clinic visits, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations, and health preventive behaviors were measured based on self-reported preventive health services use.Results:Approximately 79.6% of adults were found to have inadequate health literacy. They tended to be older, had fewer years of schooling, lower household income, and were females. Inadequate health literacy was associated with poorer general health (P < 0.001). Health literacy level was negatively associated with outpatient visits (P = 0.003) and hospitalization (P = 0.01). No significant association was found between health literacy level and emergency room utilization. Self-reported lack of PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test (P < 0.001) and fecal occult blood test (FOBT; P = 0.003) was higher among individuals with inadequate health literacy than those with adequate health literacy. No significant association was found between health literacy level and mammogram in the last 2 years.Conclusion:Low health literacy is more prevalent in older adults. It indicates the importance of health literacy issue in health promotion. So, with simple educational materials and effective interventions for low health literacy group, we can improve health promotion in the society and mitigate the adverse health effects of low health literacy.

Oral Health Literacy and Related Factors among Pregnant Women Referring to Health Government Institute in Kerman, Iran

“…In the present study, the age of the subjects did not correlate statistically with the educational level of individuals, which is consistent with the previously described [24]. Some authors have shown that older people had a lower level of literacy [40,49] and, consequently, had worse oral health that was inconsistent with the current study. The reason for this difference can be attributed to the type of study so that the present study was conducted only on pregnant women and the age range was not high.…”

Health literacy among Iranian adults: findings from a nationwide population-based survey in 2015

“…Research article Our findings were consistent with an existing body of international and national evidence. The findings of several national studies suggest a relatively low level of health literacy in the Islamic Republic of Iran (14,15,(20)(21)(22)(23). For instance, in a study among the literate urban population > 44% of participants had inadequate and only 16% had adequate health literacy levels (16).…”

“…In the Islamic Republic of Iran, one of the most populated countries in the Middle East, several studies have tried to measure health literacy and reported overall insufficient health literacy levels, ranging from 41% in adults in the central province of Yazd to 68% in the southeastern province of Baluchistan (13). Previous studies have also indicated varying levels of health literacy among different subpopulations of patients, e.g., 70% insufficient health literacy in patients with diabetes (14); and age groups, e.g., 79.6% insufficient health literacy among older adults (15). However, the existing body of evidence often suffers from sampling bias (e.g.…”

Measles Epidemiology in Sistan and Baluchistan Province During April 2006-March 2011

“…A systematic review study by Berkman et al examined the relationship between health literacy and health outcomes (59). Considering the importance of the relationship between HL and use of health outcomes, health care services and costs, it is crucial to consider population 6 Health Scope. 2018; 7(3):e62212.…”

“…Health Literacy has been introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO), as a key determiner of healthcare. It has been recommended globally to create an association to constantly monitor and coordinate strategic activities, especially with the aim of promoting healthcare (6).…”