Health behaviors according to the ability to understand health information in Korean adults

This study aimed to verify the relationship between the level of understanding of health information and health behaviors among Korean adults. In total, 228 984 adults who participated in the 2021 Korea Community Health Survey were included. Participants were divided into three groups according to age (19–44, 45–64 and 65+). The ability to understand verbal and written health information was included, and its association with health behaviors, including smoking, alcohol consumption and preventive health service uptake, was assessed. Associations between the ability to understand health information and health behaviors were analyzed using chi-squared tests and multiple logistic regression analyses. Approximately 22.7% and 20% of the participants responded that verbal and written health information were easy to understand, respectively, with significant differences by age group. Compared to those with easy-to-understand verbal health information, those with difficulty in understanding had a higher risk of current cigarette smoking and monthly drinking and were less likely to engage in more than moderate physical activity, walking, influenza vaccination in 1 year, cancer examination in 2 years and medical examination in 2 years. Difficulty in understanding or no interest in written health information was also associated with unhealthy behaviors. A strong ability to understand health information is related to positive health behaviors. However, there are differences in the associations by age group, which should be considered when establishing a health literacy improvement strategy. These findings could promote health literacy and ultimately contribute to helping individuals make better choices for positive health behaviors.

Environmental health · Health belief model · Health care · Health communication · Health education · Health examination · Health information · Health Information National Trends Survey · Health literacy · Health promotion · Logistic regression · Public health · Communication · Health Literacy and Information Accessibility · Medicine · Mobile Health and mHealth Applications · Nursing · Pediatric health and respiratory diseases · Psychology · Gerontology

• The association between health literacy and screening for disease-specific complications among community-dwelling adults with diabetes

  Open Access•Fatima Nari, Jae Kwan Jun et al.•Frontiers in Public Health•2024

  Incluir item

• Korea Community Health Survey Data Profiles

  Open Access•Yang Wha Kang, Yun Sil Ko et al.•Osong Public Health and Research…•2015

  Incluir item

• Health literacy, socioeconomic status and self-rated health in Japan

  Open Access•Yoko Furuya, Naoki Kondo et al.•Health Promotion International•2015

  Incluir item

• Health literacy and Covid-19-related beliefs and behaviors

  Open Access•Hirono Ishikawa, Mio Kato•Health Promotion International•2023

  Incluir item

• Readability of online Covid-19 health information

  Open Access•Amy P Worrall, Mary Connolly et al.•BMC Public Health•2020

  Incluir item