Associations of Health Literacy to Health Promoting Behaviors in Older Adults with Hypertension

Abstract

This research aimed to study the level of health literacy and health promotion behaviors of the elderly with hypertension and investigate relationships between health literacy and health promoting behaviors. The 132 elderlies were purposive selected according to the inclusion criteria. Data were collected by interview using the questionnaires including the Demographic Questionnaire, the Functional, Communication, and Critical Health Literacy Scales, and the Health Promoting Behaviors Questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.

The results revealed that 1) the mean score of overall health literacy of the samples was at moderate, while the mean score of functional health literacy and critical health literacy were at moderate level and communicative health literacy was at high level, 2) the mean score of overall health promoting behaviors was at moderate level. Health literacy was positively correlated with health behavior at a low level (r_s = .250, p = 0.01), and communicative health literacy and critical health literacy were statistically correlated with health behaviors (r_s = .295 and .229; p <.01 respectively).

The finding suggested that functional, communication, and critical literacy skill assessment of the elderlies are essential. These assessments will aid in planning that will promote the health promoting behaviors of elderlies through the improvement of their health literacy level.