IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i5p4172-d1080730.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Health Literacy among Older Adults in Portugal and Associated Sociodemographic, Health and Healthcare-Related Factors

Author

Listed:
  • Andreia Costa

    (Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
    CIDNUR—Centro de Investigação, Inovação e Desenvolvimento em Enfermagem de Lisboa, Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Lisboa, 1600-190 Lisboa, Portugal
    CRC-W—Católica Research Centre for Psychological, Family and Social Wellbeing, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, 1649-023 Lisboa, Portugal
    Laboratório Associado TERRA, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Rodrigo Feteira-Santos

    (Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
    Laboratório Associado TERRA, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
    EPI Task-Force FMUL, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
    Área Disciplinar Autónoma de Bioestatística (Laboratório de Biomatemática), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Violeta Alarcão

    (Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
    Laboratório Associado TERRA, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
    Centro de Investigação e Estudos de Sociologia (CIES-Iscte), Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (Iscte), 1649-026 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Adriana Henriques

    (Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
    CIDNUR—Centro de Investigação, Inovação e Desenvolvimento em Enfermagem de Lisboa, Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Lisboa, 1600-190 Lisboa, Portugal
    Laboratório Associado TERRA, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Teresa Madeira

    (Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
    Laboratório Associado TERRA, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
    Laboratório de Nutrição, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Ana Virgolino

    (Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
    Laboratório Associado TERRA, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Miguel Arriaga

    (Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
    CIDNUR—Centro de Investigação, Inovação e Desenvolvimento em Enfermagem de Lisboa, Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Lisboa, 1600-190 Lisboa, Portugal
    CRC-W—Católica Research Centre for Psychological, Family and Social Wellbeing, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, 1649-023 Lisboa, Portugal
    Laboratório Associado TERRA, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Paulo J. Nogueira

    (Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
    Laboratório Associado TERRA, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
    EPI Task-Force FMUL, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
    Área Disciplinar Autónoma de Bioestatística (Laboratório de Biomatemática), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal)

Abstract

Although the health literacy level of the general population was described recently, little is known about its specific levels among older adults in Portugal. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the levels of health literacy demonstrated by older adults in Portugal and explore associated factors. Using a randomly generated list of telephone numbers, adults aged 65 years or more living in mainland Portugal were contacted in September and October 2022. Sociodemographic, health and healthcare-related variables were collected, and the 12-item version of the European Health Literacy Survey Project 2019–2021 was used to measure health literacy. Then, binary logistic regression models were used to investigate factors associated with limited general health literacy. In total, 613 participants were surveyed. The mean level of general health literacy was (59.15 ± 13.05; n = 563), whereas health promotion (65.82 ± 13.19; n = 568) and appraising health information (65.16 ± 13.26; n = 517) were the highest scores in the health literacy domain and the dimension of health information processing, respectively. Overall, 80.6% of respondents revealed limited general health literacy, which was positively associated with living in a difficult household financial situation (4.17; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.64–10.57), perceiving one’s own health status as poorer (7.12; 95% CI: 2.02–25.09), and having a fair opinion about a recent interaction with primary healthcare services (2.75; 95% CI: 1.46–5.19). The proportion of older adults with limited general health literacy in Portugal is significant. This result should be considered to inform health planning according to the health literacy gap of older adults in Portugal.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreia Costa & Rodrigo Feteira-Santos & Violeta Alarcão & Adriana Henriques & Teresa Madeira & Ana Virgolino & Miguel Arriaga & Paulo J. Nogueira, 2023. "Health Literacy among Older Adults in Portugal and Associated Sociodemographic, Health and Healthcare-Related Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4172-:d:1080730
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/4172/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/4172/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Miguel Arriaga & Rita Francisco & Paulo Nogueira & Jorge Oliveira & Carlota Silva & Gisele Câmara & Kristine Sørensen & Christina Dietscher & Andreia Costa, 2022. "Health Literacy in Portugal: Results of the Health Literacy Population Survey Project 2019–2021," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-15, April.
    2. Yong-Bing Liu & Liu Liu & Yan-Fei Li & Yan-Li Chen, 2015. "Relationship between Health Literacy, Health-Related Behaviors and Health Status: A Survey of Elderly Chinese," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-12, August.
    3. Sarah Gibney & Lucy Bruton & Catherine Ryan & Gerardine Doyle & Gillian Rowlands, 2020. "Increasing Health Literacy May Reduce Health Inequalities: Evidence from a National Population Survey in Ireland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-17, August.
    4. Jürgen M. Pelikan & Thomas Link & Christa Straßmayr & Karin Waldherr & Tobias Alfers & Henrik Bøggild & Robert Griebler & Maria Lopatina & Dominika Mikšová & Marie Germund Nielsen & Sandra Peer & Mitj, 2022. "Measuring Comprehensive, General Health Literacy in the General Adult Population: The Development and Validation of the HLS 19 -Q12 Instrument in Seventeen Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-31, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ya Gao & Chen Chen & Hong Hui & Mingyue Chen & Ning Chen & Hong Chen & Weiming Zeng & Yan Wei & Zhaoxin Wang & Jianwei Shi, 2022. "Improving Health Literacy: Analysis of the Relationship between Residents’ Usage of Information Channels and Health Literacy in Shanghai, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-11, May.
    2. Tony Lee & Benjamin J. Becerra & Monideepa B. Becerra, 2023. "“ Seems Like There Is No Stopping Point at All Whatsoever ”: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Public Health Workforce Perception on COVID-19 Pandemic Management and Future Needs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(14), pages 1-9, July.
    3. Megan Freund & Natasha Noble & Allison Boyes & Matthew Clapham & David Adamson & Robert Sanson-Fisher, 2023. "How Does the Health Literacy of Adults Residing in Social Housing Compare with That of Those Living in Other Housing Tenures in Australia? A Secondary Analysis of the Australian National Health Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(18), pages 1-10, September.
    4. Angela Chang & Peter J. Schulz, 2018. "The Measurements and an Elaborated Understanding of Chinese eHealth Literacy (C-eHEALS) in Chronic Patients in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-12, July.
    5. Chengbo Li & Mengyao Liu & Jin Zhou & Mei Zhang & Huanchang Liu & Yuting Wu & Hui Li & George W. Leeson & Tingting Deng, 2022. "Do Health Information Sources Influence Health Literacy among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Urban Areas of Western China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-19, October.
    6. Yan Feng & Erpeng Liu & Zhang Yue & Qilin Zhang & Tiankuo Han, 2019. "The Evolutionary Trends of Health Behaviors in Chinese Elderly and the Influencing Factors of These Trends: 2005–2014," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-17, May.
    7. Jungwon Cho & Seungyeon Kim & Sangyoon Shin & Hyejin Yoo & Gi Hyue Park & Eunha Jeon & Eunsook Lee & Ho-Young Lee & Euni Lee, 2020. "Hospitalized Patients Accessing Information on Prescribed Medications from the Bedside Terminal: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-10, July.
    8. Dai Su & Zhifang Chen & Jingjing Chang & Guangwen Gong & Dandan Guo & Min Tan & Yunfan Zhang & Yanchen Liu & Xinlan Chen & Xinlin Chen & Yingchun Chen, 2020. "Effect of Social Participation on the Physical Functioning and Depression of Empty-Nest Elderly in China: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-15, December.
    9. David García-García & Francisco Javier Pérez-Rivas, 2022. "Health Literacy and Its Sociodemographic Predictors: A Cross-Sectional Study of a Population in Madrid (Spain)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-14, September.
    10. Lara Lindert & Lukas Kühn & Paulina Kuper & Kyung-Eun (Anna) Choi, 2022. "Organizational Health Literacy in the Context of Employee Health: An Expert-Panel-Guided Scoping Review Protocol," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-9, April.
    11. Vieri Lastrucci & Chiara Lorini & Marco Del Riccio & Eleonora Gori & Fabrizio Chiesi & Andrea Moscadelli & Beatrice Zanella & Sara Boccalini & Angela Bechini & Francesco Puggelli & Renzo Berti & Paolo, 2021. "The Role of Health Literacy in COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors and Infection Risk Perception: Evidence from a Population-Based Sample of Essential Frontline Workers during the Lockdown in the Province o," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-14, December.
    12. Zijuan Huang & Jien Sze Ho & Qai Ven Yap & Yiong Huak Chan & Swee Yaw Tan & Natalie Koh Si Ya & Lip Ping Low & Huay Cheem Tan & Woon Puay Koh & Terrance Siang Jin Chua & Sungwon Yoon, 2022. "Patterns of motivators and barriers to heart health behaviors among adults with behavior-modifiable cardiovascular risk factors: A population-based survey in Singapore," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(1), pages 1-19, January.
    13. Yu Zhang & Xianglai Sang & Yibo Wu & Tuo Liu & Ran Niu & Lu Han & Qi Wang & Xiaocheng Liang, 2022. "Correlation between Frequency of Eating Out of Home and Dietary Intake, Sleep, and Physical Activity: A Survey of Young CDC Employees in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-10, March.
    14. Ewelina Chawłowska & Monika Karasiewicz & Agnieszka Lipiak & Rafał Staszewski & Mateusz Cofta & Maria Biskupska & Bogusz Giernaś & Agnieszka Zawiejska, 2022. "Oral Health Behaviours, Knowledge, and Literacy of Expectant Mothers: A Cross-Sectional Study among Maternity Ward Patients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-16, September.
    15. Jing Liao & Bei Wu & Jing Mao & Ping Ni, 2020. "Preference for Aggressive End-of-Life Care among Advanced Cancer Patients in Wuhan, China: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-14, September.
    16. Gabriela Rolova & Beata Gavurova & Benjamin Petruzelka, 2020. "Exploring Health Literacy in Individuals with Alcohol Addiction: A Mixed Methods Clinical Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-20, September.
    17. Dulce Nascimento Do Ó & Ana Rita Goes & Gerald Elsworth & João F. Raposo & Isabel Loureiro & Richard H. Osborne, 2022. "Cultural Adaptation and Validity Testing of the Portuguese Version of the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-18, May.
    18. Xueyan Chen & Tao Zhou & Di Wang, 2022. "The Impact of Multidimensional Health Levels on Rural Poverty: Evidence from Rural China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-15, March.
    19. Marta Falcão & Mariateresa Allocca & Ana Sofia Rodrigues & Pedro Granjo & Rita Francisco & Carlota Pascoal & Maria Grazia Rossi & Dorinda Marques-da-Silva & Salvador C. M. Magrinho & Jaak Jaeken & Lar, 2023. "A Community-Based Participatory Framework to Co-Develop Patient Education Materials (PEMs) for Rare Diseases: A Model Transferable across Diseases," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-17, January.
    20. Tuyen Van Duong & Thao T. P. Nguyen & Khue M. Pham & Kien T. Nguyen & Manh H. Giap & Tung D. X. Tran & Chi X. Nguyen & Shwu-Huey Yang & Chien-Tien Su, 2019. "Validation of the Short-Form Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLS-SF12) and Its Determinants among People Living in Rural Areas in Vietnam," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-11, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4172-:d:1080730. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.