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Health literacy of seniors and its impact on health and the use of health services


Authors: H. Hajduchová;  S. Bártlová;  I. Brabcová;  L. Motlová;  L. Šedová;  V. Tóthová
Authors place of work: Zdravotně sociální fakulta, Děkanka: prof. PhDr. Valérie Tóthová, Ph. D. ;  Ústav ošetřovatelství, porodní asistence a neodkladné péče, Ředitelka: doc. PhDr. Sylva Bártlová, Ph. D ;  Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích, Rektor: doc. Tomáš Machula, Ph. D., Th. D.
Published in the journal: Prakt. Lék. 2017; 97(5): 223-227
Category: Of different specialties

Summary

Introduction:
Health literacy represents the degree to which individuals are able to find out, absorb and understand health information and services in order to make right decisions about their health. Insufficient health literacy is common in elderly individuals and is associated with a number of problems, such as poor use of preventive medical service, problems with observing the prescribed medication, frequent hospitalizations, increased health care expenses and increased mortality. The goal of the study was to find out the level of health literacy in the target 65+ population and the relation to the health condition of the respondents, the influence of health problems on activities and using health services.

Methodology:
Trained questioners using structured interviews collected the data. The sample consisted of 326 respondents. The interview structure was derived from a standardized HLS-EU-16 questionnaire designed for the identification of health literacy of the population complemented by a few questions of socio-demographic character.

Results:
A statistically significant correlation was proven between health literacy and the health condition in a selected sample of elderly individuals. The worse health condition was mentioned, the lower was the respondents’ health literacy. On the contrary, respondents with a better health condition had significantly higher health literacy. The elderly individuals with inadequate health literacy said significantly more frequently that they suffered from more than one long-term (chronic) disease. Furthermore, it was found out that the lower the health literacy is, the more frequently the respondent has seen his/her doctor in the last 12 months. The individuals with lower health literacy have contacted significantly more frequently emergency service in the last two years. There was also proven a significant correlation between health literacy and the number of hospitalizations in the last 12 months.

Conclusion:
The improvement of health literacy in this age group is important for the management of the elderly’s health and one of the ways of healthy ageing.

Keywords:
the elderly – health literacy – health


Zdroje

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Štítky
General practitioner for children and adolescents General practitioner for adults
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