Health Literacy and Comparison of Scores by Personal Factors Among Older Adults Participating in a Health Literacy Enhancement Program in Kut Chap District, Udon Thani Province.

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Abstract

This research aimed to study the level of health literacy and compare mean scores based on personal factors among older adults participating in a health literacy promotion program in Kut Chap District, Udon Thani Province. This study employed a cross-sectional analysis of 42 participants. Data were collected using a questionnaire developed based on Sørensen's concept, covering four skills: accessing information, understanding, making decisions, and applying information. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and difference tests with Independent t-test and One-way ANOVA at a significance level of 0.05.

The research findings revealed that most older adults were female (85.7%), with an average age of 69.40±6.28 years. The overall health literacy level was high (mean score 73.11 ± 5.73 out of 80). The highest scores were in the 'applying information' aspect (18.55 ± 2.36), and the lowest in the 'understanding' aspect (17.69 ± 1.92), both still at a high level. The factor significantly associated with health literacy was income level; the group with an income of ≥ 5,000 Baht per month had a higher mean score than the group with lower income (mean diff = 3.85, 95% CI =0.45 to 7.26). Other factors such as gender, age, education, and underlying diseases showed no statistically significant differences (p-value > 0.05).

The research results indicate that the program is effective in developing health literacy. However, there should be an emphasis on developing decision-making skills and supporting older adults with low income to reduce inequality and promote sustainable health. This research has implications for designing health programs that address the diversity of older adults in the community.