Factors Influencing Health Literacy in Community-Dwelling Adults

Son, Youn Jung; Kim, So Dam; Jang, Hee Jung; Yun, Ye Rim; Kim, Hye Mi; Park, Ji In; Kim, Sun Hee

Korean J Health Promot > Volume 12(2); 2012 > Article

Original Article

Korean Journal of Health Promotion 2012;12(2):100-108.

Factors Influencing Health Literacy in Community-Dwelling Adults

Youn Jung Jung Son, So Dam Dam Kim, Hee Jung Jung Jang, Ye Rim Rim Yun, Hye Mi Mi Kim, Ji In In Park, Sun Hee Hee Kim

¹School of Nursing, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea.
²College of Nursing, Korea University, Seoul, Korea. ssuny106@korea.ac.kr

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Health illiteracy is a problem often unrecognized by health care providers. It influences medical costs and the health status of adults. The purposes of this study were to determine the level of health literacy in community-dwelling adults and to identify the factors influencing it. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Seoul, Gyeonggi and Chungcheong province. A total of 420 adults aged 18 or older were interviewed by trained nursing students between November 1 to December 30, 2011. Health literacy was measured using the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults. Data were analyzed using the PASW 18.0 program. RESULTS: The mean score of health literacy was 50.64+/-19.18. In the multiple linear regression analysis, health literacy was significantly associated with education (beta=0.17, P=0.001), alcohol use (beta=-0.12, P=0.010), and perceived health status (beta=0.11, P=0.029). These factors accounted for about 7% of health literacy. CONCLUSIONS: Health literacy is a very important public health issue. Our findings showed that educational level, alcohol use and perceived health status should be considered when assessing this issue in patients. Furthermore, the development of a standardized Korean assessment tool for health literacy and specified interventions for enhancing health literacy are needed to improve health outcomes.

Key Words: Adult, Health literacy, Community, Primary prevention