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The Prevalence of Limited Health Literacy and Its Associated Factors among Elderly Patients Attending an Urban Academic Primary Care Clinic in Malaysia

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  • Siti Nur Hidayah Abd-Rahim

    (Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Jalan Prima Selayang 7, Batu Caves 68100, Malaysia)

  • Mohamed-Syarif Mohamed-Yassin

    (Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Jalan Prima Selayang 7, Batu Caves 68100, Malaysia)

  • Suraya Abdul-Razak

    (Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Jalan Prima Selayang 7, Batu Caves 68100, Malaysia
    Institute of Pathology, Laboratory and Forensic Medicine (I-PPerForM), Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia
    Cardio Vascular and Lungs Research Institute (CaVaLRI), Pusat Perubatan UiTM, Kampus Sungai Buloh, Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia)

  • Mohamad Rodi Isa

    (Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Jalan Hospital, Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia)

  • Noorhida Baharudin

    (Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Jalan Prima Selayang 7, Batu Caves 68100, Malaysia)

Abstract

Limited health literacy (HL) is linked to many negative health outcomes, including poor self-management of chronic diseases and medication adherence among patients. There are a lack of data regarding HL in the elderly population in Malaysia. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of limited HL levels and its associated factors among elderly patients in an urban academic primary care clinic in Selangor, Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 413 elderly patients (≥60 years old) who attended this academic primary care clinic between January 2020 and January 2021. Sociodemographic data, clinical characteristics, and health literacy scores were collected. Descriptive statistics (median with interquartile ranges (IQR), frequency, and percentages) and multiple logistic regression were utilized. The prevalence of limited HL in our population was 19.1% (95% CI: 15.3, 23). The middle-old (70–79 years) and very-old (≥80 years) age groups were more likely to have limited HL (aOR 4.05; 95% CI: 2.19, 7.52 and aOR 4.36; 95% CI: 1.02, 18.63, respectively). Those with at least secondary school education (aOR 0.06; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.24) and those who found medical information via the internet/television (aOR 0.21; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.93) had lower odds of having limited HL. In conclusion, having limited HL levels was not common among elderly patients in this primary care clinic. Further studies involving rural and larger primary care clinics in Malaysia are required to support these findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Siti Nur Hidayah Abd-Rahim & Mohamed-Syarif Mohamed-Yassin & Suraya Abdul-Razak & Mohamad Rodi Isa & Noorhida Baharudin, 2021. "The Prevalence of Limited Health Literacy and Its Associated Factors among Elderly Patients Attending an Urban Academic Primary Care Clinic in Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:17:p:9044-:d:623271
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chengbo Li & Yanqi Guo, 2021. "The Effect of Socio-Economic Status on Health Information Literacy among Urban Older Adults: Evidence from Western China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Diane Levin-Zamir & Isabella Bertschi, 2018. "Media Health Literacy, eHealth Literacy, and the Role of the Social Environment in Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-12, August.
    3. Samerski, Silja, 2019. "Health literacy as a social practice: Social and empirical dimensions of knowledge on health and healthcare," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 1-8.
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