Health literacy in old age

Results of a German cross-sectional study

Datos Bibliográficos

ID22945773
AutoresDominique Vogt (0000-0002-2254-1735, Department of Health Services Research and Nursing Science, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, Bielefeld, Germany, autor de correspondencia), Doris Schaeffer (0000-0002-9238-6865, Department of Health Services Research and Nursing Science, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, Bielefeld, Germany), Melanie Messer (0000-0003-1782-7226, Department of Health Services Research and Nursing Science, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, Bielefeld, Germany), Eva-Maria Berens (0000-0001-9181-2706, Department of Health Services Research and Nursing Science, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, Bielefeld, Germany), Klaus Hurrelmann (0000-0001-5616-7983, Professor of Public Health and Education, Hertie School of Governance, Friedrichstraße 180, Berlin, Germany)
Año2018
Volumen33
Número5
Páginas739-747
Fecha de publicación2018-10-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaHealth Promotion International (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245
EditorialOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/heapro/dax012
PMID28369348
OpenAlexW2600452063
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas14
Referencias citadas36

Health literacy is especially important for older people to maintain or enhance remaining health resources and self-management skills. The aim of the study was to determine the level of health literacy and the association between health literacy, demographic and socio-economic factors in German older adults aged 65 years and above stratified by age group. Health literacy was assessed via computer-assisted personal interviews using HLS-EU-Q47 on a representative sample of the German-speaking population. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses and logistic regression modelling stratified by age group were conducted to assess health literacy of 475 respondents aged 65 years and above. Overall, 66.3% of all respondents aged 65 years and above had limited health literacy. Limited health literacy was especially prevalent among respondents above 76 years of age (80.6%). Limited health literacy was associated with financial deprivation (OR: 3.05; 95% CI: 1.99-4.67) and limited functional health literacy (OR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.29-3.61). Financial deprivation was strongest predictor for limited health literacy in the total sample and stratified by age group. Limited health literacy is a frequent phenomenon in German adults aged 65 years and above. Research on health literacy in old age and the role in health disparities is urgently needed.

Cross-sectional study · Geography · German · Health care · Health literacy · Literacy · Logistic regression · Sociology · Breastfeeding Practices and Influences · Demography · Health Literacy and Information Accessibility · Medicine · Mobile Health and mHealth Applications · Psychology · Gerontology