Global Health Literacy Summit 2021
03 - 05 October 2021
Virtual

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Abstract

Title
Exploring the determinants of health literacy among older adults: a cross-sectional survey
Type
Poster Presentation Only
Theme
Global Health Literacy Summit 2021
Topic
Health literacy and older adults

Authors

Main Author
Han-Wei Tsai1
Presenting Author
Wen-Hsuan Hou1 3 4 5
Co-Author
Hsiao-Ting Chiu1 2
Ken N. Kuo3
Wen-Hsuan Hou1 3 4 5

Authors' Institution

Department / Institution / Country
Master’s Program in Long-Term Care / Taipei Medical University / Taiwan (台灣)1
Department of Rehabilitation / Xinwu Branch, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare / Taiwan (台灣)2
Cochrane Taiwan / Taipei Medical University / Taiwan (台灣)3
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation / Taipei Medical University Hospital / Taiwan (台灣)4
Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine / Taipei Medical University / Taiwan (台灣)5
Content
Abstract Content (abstracts should be written in Size 11 font, Arial font style)

Background: To investigate the health literacy (HL) among older adults in Taiwan, we referenced an existing integrated model of HL to select determinants of HL in older adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study explored HL and its personal, situational, and socioenvironmental determinants among older adults in Taiwan. Hierarchical regression models were adopted to identify the significant determinants of HL among older adults.

Results: We recruited 161 participants aged over 65 years, with a mean age of 75.16 years. Participants exhibited no signs of cognitive impairment. The Mandarin Chinese version of the European Health Literacy Scale was used to assess HL. Most adults (57.76%) in this study had limited overall HL. The final regression model revealed age >85 years (β = −8.50), unknown pf insurance status (β = −9.04), and dominant spoken dialect of Hakka (β = −10.28) or Taiwanese (β = −8.34) significantly associated with higher scores of HL (R2 = 0.56).

Conclusion: We concluded that an adult’s aged above 85 years old, unknown of private insurance, as well as dominant spoken dialect (Taiwanese or Hakka) are significantly associated with HL. Our study results help clinicians to early identify older adults at high risk for poor HL and health administrators to establish geriatric policies and health education plans.
Keywords: Health literacy; Older adults; Dominant spoken dialect; Determinants of health literacy; Health policy
Requires Audio or Video system for Presentation?: No