Sociodemographic characteristics of the senior population and their impact on the level of health literacy: a literature review

Česká verzia

Authors: D. Beňadiková ^1,2; I. Bóriková ¹
Authors place of work: Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, Jesseniova lekárska fakulta v Martine, Ústav ošetrovateľstva, Vedúca: prof. Mgr. Katarína Źiaková, PhD. ¹; Nemocnica Zvolen a. s., Riaditeľ: MUDr. Ján Belanský, MPH ²
Published in the journal: Prakt. Lék. 2020; 100(3): 113-117
Category: Of different specialties

Summary

Aim: The aim of the review study was to find out which socio-demographic characteristics of the senior population aged 65 years or more have a significant impact on the level of health literacy.

Methods: Relevant studies included in the final analysis were searched in the electronic databases ScienceDirect, PubMed and BiblioMedica CZ using the keywords health literacy, elderly, sociodemographic factors in the period from 2011 to 2019. The search was focused on empirical studies that looked at the sociodemographic characteristics of the senior population in relation to health literacy.

Results: From the total 43 studies, 12 were included in the final analysis. The sociodemographic variables monitored were gender, age, education, marital status, residence, and employment, financial and social status. Studies have shown that age, education, financial and social status significantly affect the level of health literacy of seniors. The impact of gender is disputable; employment, residence and marital status are among the less observed and less significant variables in relation to health literacy.

Conclusion: Studies confirm the present sociodemographic gradient of health literacy of the vulnerable senior population. The monitored variables need to be known when the elderly interacts with the health system, as they can initiate targeted health policy interventions to improve the level of health literacy.

Keywords:

health literacy – elderly population – sociodemographic factors

Zdroje

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