Factors associated with health literacy in rural areas of Central China: structural equation model

Health literacy and its associated factors among the population in two schistosomiasis-endemic villages in Jiangxi Province, China

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the levels of health literacy and the associated factors among the general population living in 2 schistosomiasis-endemic villages in Jiangxi Province, China. Multistage stratified random sampling was used to select participants, and a face-to-face survey was conducted from July to August 2021 to collect participants' socio-demographic characteristics and levels of overall health literacy (HL) and its 3 subscales: health literacy of basic knowledge and concepts (HL-BKC), health literacy of behavior and lifestyle (HL-BAL), and health literacy of health-related skills (HL-HRS). The Chi-square test and logistic regression models were used to assess the association between socio-demographic characteristics and low HL levels. The prevalence rates of low overall HL, HL-BKC, HL-BAL, and HL-HRS were 84.3%, 61.8%, 82.6%, and 86%, respectively. In addition, no significant differences (P > .05) were noted between the 2 villages regarding overall HL scores and the 3 subscales of health literacy scores. Older age (P < .001), occupation (P < .001), lower educational level (P < .001), and lower annual household income (P < .05) were associated with an increased risk of low HL. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that occupation as a student (OR = 32.289, 95% CI:1.965-530.462, P < .05) and fishermen (OR = 27.902, 95%CI:1.91-407.642, P < .05), lower education level (OR = 0.384, 95%CI:0.149-0.99, P < .05), older age (OR = 5.228, 95%CI:1.458-18.75, P < .001), and lower annual household income (OR = 0.452, 95%CI:0.24-0.851, P < .05) were independently associated with low HL. The prevalence of low HL is high among the population in the schistosomiasis-endemic villages of Jiangxi Province, China. Age, education level, occupation, and annual household income were all independent factors associated with HL levels. Health educational interventions to improve HL should be simultaneously conducted in health promotion work to reduce risky habits.

Health literacy and associated factors in China: findings from the Wa ethnic group

Background

The health literacy of ethnic groups in remote areas of China is far from satisfactory. However, the health literacy of ethnic groups in China remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the health literacy of the "advancing directly" ethnic group and its influencing factors.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted using a staged sampling method among the Wa ethnic group, who have rapidly transitioned directly from the traditional lifestyle of slash-and-burn cultivation to modern societies. We used the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) to assess health literacy. We defined low health literacy as less than 60% of the total score and adequate health literacy as more than 80% of the total score.

Results

A total of 668 individuals met the inclusion criteria and the mean age was 42.19 (SD 10.56) years. The mean HLQ total score was 29.9 (SD 10.56). The prevalence of adequate health literacy was 0.89%. There were significant differences between the low and the non-low health literacy groups in terms of gender, age, education, marital status, occupation, residing place, current smoking status, and waist circumference (all p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that women (t = 9·418, p < 0.001), older age (B = -0.0091, t = -2.644, p = 0.008), low educational level (B = 0.766, t = 6.018, p < 0.001), current smoking (B = -2.66, t = -3.038, p = 0.008), and residence far from township (B = -5.761, t = -4.1, p < 0.001) were associated with low HLQ total score.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that the health literacy of the Wa ethnic group is far from favorable. It indicates the need for increased efforts in improving the health literacy of "advancing directly" ethnic groups.

Public health literacy in primary users in western Turkey

BACKGROUND

Public health literacy (PHL) is a novel perspective on health literacy (HL). Differing from HL's individualist approach, PHL is concerned with public health events and promoting health in the whole society.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate PHL, a newly developed concept, and related factors.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, people who visited primary healthcare centers in urban and rural settings were recruited using a questionnaire that includes Public Health Literacy Knowledge Scale (PHLKS) and Adult Health Literacy Scale (AHLS). Out of four Primary Healthcare Centers (PMCs) in western Turkey selected randomly, one PMC was located in a rural setting, while three PMCs were located in an urban setting. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the predictors for PHL.

RESULTS

The study group consisted of 1672 people, of which 55.3% were male. The mean age was 40.94 ± 15.22. The median score (min-max) from PHLKS was 13.0 (0-17). Multiple linear regression showed that income level had a negative impact on PHL. Higher education, fondness for reading, hospital admission and HL, however, increased PHL levels. Additionally, living in an urban area and not having auditory problems were positively associated with PHL.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants had a moderate level of PHL. Improving PHL should be a priority to tackle global and local problems that have an adverse effect on community health. To increase community engagement in public health events, people with low education and HL levels should be targeted in future training programs.

Trends and Patterns of Systemic Glucocorticoid Prescription in Primary Care Institutions in Southwest China, from 2018 to 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prescribing patterns and usage trends of systemic glucocorticoids in primary care institutions located in Southwest China from 2018 to 2021.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of systemic glucocorticoids prescriptions was conducted in 32 primary care institutions located in Southwest China between 2018 and 2021. Prescriptions of systemic glucocorticoids were classified as appropriate or inappropriate use. Inappropriate use was further classified into (1) inappropriate indications and (2) inappropriate selection of glucocorticoids. Generalized estimation equations were employed to investigate the factors associated with inappropriate utilization of systemic glucocorticoids. The seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model was employed to predict the rate of inappropriate glucocorticoids prescriptions.

Results

A total of 203,846 (92.89%) prescriptions were included, both the number of systemic glucocorticoids prescriptions and inappropriate prescriptions increased in winter. Diseases of the respiratory system (68.90%) were the most frequent targets of systemic glucocorticoids use. Of all prescriptions, 73.18% exhibited inappropriate indications, while 0.05% demonstrated inappropriate selection. The utilization of systemic glucocorticoids was deemed inappropriate for diseases of the respiratory system (94.19%), followed by diseases of the digestive system (87.75%). Physicians, who were female or younger than 33 years old, possess lower levels of education and professional titles and exhibit a higher likelihood of inappropriately prescribing systemic glucocorticoids. The phenomenon of inappropriate glucocorticoids use was commoner among male patients aged 65 years and older. After conducting model verification, it was determined that the SARIMA model could be used to predict the monthly rate of inappropriate systemic glucocorticoids prescriptions in primary care institutions in southwest China.

Conclusion

The inappropriate use of systemic glucocorticoids remains a significant concern in primary care institutions. In this regard, continuing education and professional knowledge training of physicians should be strengthened in the future.

Assessment of health literacy in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and its relationship with health behaviours: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Healthy behaviours are important for people with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, adopting and maintaining lifestyle changes involves a complex set of behavioural changes, which most patients fail to adhere to. The current research on health literacy, which includes individual and social skills needed in health self-management, in patients with PCOS is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explore health literacy, health behaviours and the relationship between the two to expand research on PCOS management.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

A gynaecological outpatient clinic.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 286 patients with PCOS (≥18 years, diagnosed via Rotterdam criteria, able to self-report and give informed consent) were recruited from March to June 2022.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Health literacy and health behaviours in patients with PCOS were assessed using the Health Literacy Management Scale and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (Chinese version). Multiple logistic regression was used to analyse the factors influencing health literacy, and linear regression to assess the relationship between health literacy and health behaviours, with an F-significance test; p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Overall, most patients with PCOS had insufficient health literacy (55.9%). The influencing factors of health literacy in patients with PCOS were age (β=0.154, p<0.05), Body Mass Index (β=-0.140, p<0.05), income (β=1.228, p<0.05), duration of illness (β=0.110, p<0.05) and educational level (β=1.552, p<0.05). Moreover, 40.6% of patients with poor health behaviours, and 31.8% with moderate health behaviours, needed to improve their health behaviours. Health literacy was positively correlated with health behaviours in patients with PCOS (r=0.473, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The positive correlation between health literacy and health behaviour in patients with PCOS indicates that promoting health literacy in future treatment and management of PCOS may be beneficial.

Prevalence and factors associated with sexual and reproductive health literacy among youth living with HIV in Uganda: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Adequate sexual and reproductive health literacy (SRHL) among young people has been linked to informed sexual behaviours. Studies on SRHL have largely been conducted among the general adolescent population. Little is known about youth aged 15-24 years living with human immunodeficiency virus (YLHIV). There is a possible lack of SRHL in this population, considering the high rate of teenage pregnancies and unprotected sex reported by YLHIV. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated personal and environmental factors for SRHL among YLHIV at a high-volume urban HIV Clinic in Uganda.

METHODS

Through a cross-sectional survey, YLHIV receiving routine HIV care services at Baylor-Uganda HIV Clinic were interviewed using an adapted European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU). Using simple random sampling, eligible youth who received HIV care services between August and November 2019 were enrolled in the study. SRHL scores were computed using the HLS-EU index method; and individuals whose scores ranged from 34 to 50 were considered health literate. We used descriptive statistics to determine the prevalence. Potential associated personal and environmental factors (p<0.05) were identified by performing two-step inferential statistics, bivariate analysis and binary logistic regression. Odds ratios were calculated to estimate the likelihood of youth being health literate on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues in comparison with the reference categories, and 95% confidence intervals were determined to establish whether the relationships were statistically significant.

RESULTS

Of the 267 YLHIV interviewed at Baylor-Uganda HIV Clinic, 167 (62.5%) were female with a mean age of 18.9 years (SD± 2.8), and the majority (242; 90.6%) were vertically infected with HIV. Only 52 (19.5%) were health literate on SRH issues. At the multivariate level, YLHIV who never had difficulty accessing SRH information were 0.391 times less likely to be health literate on SRH issues than their counterparts with challenges in accessing SRH information (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 0.391, 95% CI =0.178 to 0.860; p= 0.019). YLHIV who did not find it easy to access SRH care service points were 2.929 times more likely to be literate in SRH than those who found it easy to access such services (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 2.929, 95% CI =1.241 to 6.917; p=0.014). Additionally, YLHIV who did not listen to radio health talks were 2.406 times more likely to be health literate on SRH issues than those who did (AOR = 2.406, 95% CI =1.133 to 5.112; p=0.022).

CONCLUSIONS

SRHL is an unmet need among YLHIV; only 19.5% were health literate on SRH issues. This could complicate the achievement of the UNAIDS sustainable development goal (SDG) of an HIV/AIDS-free generation by 2030 because low health literacy (HL) skills can affect the efficacy of almost all HIV disease prevention and health promotion efforts. Inaccessible SRH care service points and not listening to radio health talks were positively associated with SRHL, while having access to SRH information was negatively associated with SRHL.

Oral Health Literacy and Its Determinants in Young Couples

Objectives: Oral health literacy (OHL) is an interplay of cultural, social and individual factors and plays an effective role in public health promotion. This study aimed to assess OHL and its socioeconomic and demographic determinants among young couples. Materials and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 828 adults between 15 to 35 years in 2018 in Zanjan city. Data regarding their OHL were collected by using a 17-item Oral Health Literacy-Adult Questionnaire (OHL-AQ) that was filled out by a combination of self-report and interview. OHL was categorized as adequate, marginal, and inadequate. The effects of age and gender as demographic variables, and floor area per person as a proxy of financial status on OHL were also assessed. Data were analyzed using the linear and multinomial logistic regression models. Results: The mean OHL score was 7.86±3.83 out of 17 in equal number of males and females. Only 21% of the couples had adequate OHL. The socioeconomic, but not demographic variables had significant correlations with the qualitative and quantitative variables of OHL even after controlling for the effect of confounders. A correlation was particularly found between inadequate OHL and years of education [odds ratio:6.00; 95% CI: 3.86-9.28); P<0.001]. Conclusion: Socioeconomic factors had independent correlations with inadequate OHL. Participants with higher levels of education, those living in urban areas, and individuals with better financial status had higher levels of OHL and lower odds of inadequate OHL.

From Identity to Ambugity: Exploring Interprofessional Collaboration Opportunities for Pharmacists in Rural and Remote Australia

Rural and remote populations are predisposed to poorer health outcomes, largely associated with limited access to health services and health professionals. This disparity provides an opportunity for health professionals to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams to deliver improved health outcomes for rural and remote communities. This study aims to explore exercise physiologist and podiatrist perceptions of interprofessional practice opportunities with pharmacists. Role theory provided a framework for this qualitative study. Interviews were conducted, recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed according to the constructs of role theory (role identity, role sufficiency, role overload, role conflict, and role ambiguity). The perceptions of participants varied, largely due to the lack of understanding of the role and scope of the practice of a pharmacist. Participants acknowledged and adopted a flexible approach to the way in which they delivered health services to meet the needs of the community. They also described a more "generalist" approach to care, owing to the high prevalence of disease and disease complexity, along with a lack of staffing and resources. The potential for increased interprofessional collaboration was supported and identified as a strategy to manage significant workloads and provide improved patient healthcare. The application of role theory to this qualitative study provides insight into perceptions of interprofessional practice that may inform future development of remote practice models of care.

The effect of community-based health education programs on health literacy in severely impoverished counties in Southwestern China: Results from a quasi-experimental design

Background

A national health education program in impoverished counties to promote health literacy among rural populations was released by the Chinese government in 2018. Under this nationwide campaign, an integrated health education program was implemented in Yunnan province, which included additional culturally sensitive educational components for the severely impoverished prefectures.

Objective

This study examined the differential effects of the health education program models on health literacy outcomes among residents in poverty-stricken areas.

Methods

A quasi-experimental design was applied with two arms that included surveys at baseline (in October 2019) and endline (in June 2021) to collect a range of individual-level health information, including the Chinese Resident Health Literacy Scale. The intervention group received the national health education program with the additional Yunnan specific program; the control group received only the national program. Respondents were recruited via a multi-stage stratified sampling, including 641 participants at baseline (261 from the intervention sites and 380 from the control sites) and 693 participants at endline (288 from the intervention sites and 405 from the control sites). Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between program intervention and health literacy outcomes.

Results

The overall health literacy levels were low (1.87%) at baseline, and there was no statistically significant difference between two groups (1.92 vs. 1.84%, P = 1.000). A significant increase (from 1.87 to 11.11%, P < 0.001) in the health literacy level was observed at endline in both groups. The magnitude of increase was significantly greater in the intervention group relative to the control group (17.71 vs. 6.42%, P < 0.001). Adjusting for the confounding factors of individual and household characteristics, results from multivariate logistic regression revealed that the odds of having adequate health literacy among participants who received both the National Program and the Yunnan Program were 3.92 times higher than those who only received the National Program (95% CI: 2.10-7.33).

Conclusion

The findings highlighted the importance of incorporating non-verbal visual aids and culturally-sensitive media tools in health literacy education to address healthy lifestyle and the living contexts of the populations in poverty-stricken areas.

Health literacy of university employees: The role of sociodemographic characteristics and nutritional status

BACKGROUND

Health literacy plays a key role in promoting overall health and preventing diseases among individuals and communities. However, the literature regarding health literacy among university employees is still evolving and not thoroughly understood.

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to examine the association between health literacy and sociodemographic characteristics and nutritional status of university employees in Jordan.

METHODS

This study was conducted using a cross-sectional design. A total of 163 university employees participated by completing a demographics questionnaire and the Health Literacy Questionnaire. The Health Literacy Questionnaire is considered a comprehensive tool to assess health literacy, and it encompasses nine distinct scales. The body mass index was calculated by obtaining the participants' height and weight.

RESULTS

The results of multivariate analysis of variance showed that three factors had a statistically significant effect on the linear composite of the Health Literacy Questionnaire scales. These factors were the university employees' age, highest level of education, and body mass index. Follow-up analyses revealed that university employees' sociodemographic characteristics and nutritional status affect different domains of health literacy. Compared to overweight employees, those with normal body mass index had higher mean average scores on six (out of nine) scales of the Health Literacy Questionnaire.

CONCLUSION

These results highlight the need for addressing the nutritional status and sociodemographic characteristics as a source of disparity in university employees' health literacy. Such factors should be addressed in designing tailored health promotion interventions for university employees.

Systemic glucocorticoid prescriptions pattern and factors of inappropriate use in primary care institutions of Southwest China

Background

Inappropriate use of glucocorticoids in primary care institutions is serious. It not only causes economic burden, but leads to many adverse reactions. The purpose of this study is to explore systemic glucocorticoid prescription pattern and factors of inappropriate use in primary care institutions.

Methods

This is a retrospective study. Systemic glucocorticoids prescribed in 58 primary care institutions in Guizhou province of Southwest China in 2020 were selected from the Health Information System. All prescriptions were classified as appropriate or inappropriate use. Inappropriate use was classified into the following two categories: (a) Inappropriate indications; (b) Inappropriate selection of glucocorticoids. Multivariate analysis was used to explore the factors associated with inappropriate use of systemic glucocorticoids.

Results

A total of 63,315 glucocorticoid prescriptions were included in the analysis. Diseases of the respiratory system (60.8%) and diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (23.1%) were the most common indications for use. Injections (89.8%) predominated and dexamethasone (86.5%) was the most prescribed glucocorticoid. 68.2% of all prescriptions were inappropriate. Compared to physicians with a college degree, physicians with a junior college (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.08-1.17) and technical secondary education (OR: 1.12, 95% CI:1.05-1.19) were more likely to prescribe glucocorticoids inappropriately as were attending physicians (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.01-1.25) and resident physicians (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.15-1.48) compared to associate chief physicians. The risk of inappropriate glucocorticoid use was highest in patients 65 years of age and older (OR: 6.00, 95% CI: 5.62-6.40). In contrast, prescriptions given by injection were more likely to be used inappropriately than those given orally (OR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.41-0.46).

Conclusion

Inappropriate use of systemic glucocorticoids without appropriate indications was extremely prominent in primary care institutions of Guizhou Province, especially in diseases of the respiratory system and among the elderly. The risk of inappropriate glucocorticoid use was highest in patients 65 years of age and older. It is important to note that physicians younger than 33, with more than 40 years of service, and attending or residents were more likely to inappropriately prescribe glucocorticoids.

Health Literacy Level and Comprehension of Prescription and Nonprescription Drug Information

The aim of this study was to investigate the level of misunderstanding of medication information in Korean adults after stratifying by level of health literacy and to identify the factors influencing the misunderstanding of medication information and reading amounts of information on OTC drug labels. A cross-sectional survey was performed with 375 adult participants using the survey instrument. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors which influence misunderstanding of medication information. Participants misunderstood 20% of words on OTC drug labels, 9% of prescription drug instructions, and 9% of pictograms. Participants on average read 59% of the overall contents of the OTC drug labels. As prescription drugs’ dosing regimens became more complicated, the level of misunderstanding instructions increased. The level of misunderstanding words on OTC drug labels significantly decreased as participants had adequate health literacy (β = −18.11, p < 0.001) and higher education levels (β = −6.83, p < 0.001), after adjusting for the study variables. The level of misunderstanding instructions for prescription drugs increased as participants became older (β = 8.81, p < 0.001) and had lower education levels (β = −5.05, p < 0.001), after adjusting for the study variables. The level of misunderstanding pictograms was similar to that of misunderstanding instructions for prescription drug labels. The amount of reading information on OTC drug labels significantly increased as respondents had adequate health literacy (β = 9.27, p < 0.001), were older (β = 12.49, p < 0.001), or had chronic diseases (β = 7.49, p = 0.007). Individuals’ health literacy level, reading behaviors, and complexity of medication instructions are associated with misunderstanding of medication information. Appropriate word choices in drug labels and an improved format of medication instructions could increase understanding of medication information and prevent adverse drug reactions.

Prevalence of Limited Health Literacy in the Philippines: First National Survey

BACKGROUND

Health literacy (HL) is the ability to access, understand, appraise, and apply health information across the three domains of the health continuum: health care, disease prevention, and health promotion. It is needed for people to effectively manage their health. Information on population HL level is useful for crafting appropriate and targeted interventions to improve HL.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe the HL level of Filipino people at the national and subnational levels.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted between 2018 and 2019 with 2,303 randomly selected Filipino people age 15 to 70 years, using an adapted Asia version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire-47. Prevalence estimates for limited HL and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were computed at the national and subnational levels.

KEY RESULTS

The nationwide prevalence of limited HL was 51.5% (95% CI, [49.5%, 53.6%]), while sub-national prevalence estimates ranged from 48.2% to 65.4%. The prevalence varied across HL dimensions, with difficulty in access to information having the highest level. Similarly, prevalence across domains was variable; health care-related HL had the highest prevalence of limited HL. The HL levels for different dimensions and domains also varied across subnational groups.

CONCLUSION

Many Filipino people had limited HL, and prevalence estimates varied across HL dimensions, HL domains, subnational groupings, and sociodemographic characteristics. The results highlight the need for targeted interventions focusing on subgroups with limited HL and on dimensions and domains where Filipino people have limited HL. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2022;6(2):e104-e112.] Plain Language Summary: The National Health Literacy Survey is the first nationwide survey on the prevalence of HL in the Philippines, involving 2,303 randomly selected Filipino residents age 15 to 70 years. Many Filipino people have limited HL, and the prevalence of HL varies across the components of HL, subnational groupings, and sociodemographic characteristics, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.

Sociodemographic correlates of knowledge about high sodium-related diseases among adults in Malaysia

The prevalence of high sodium-related diseases is increasing across the globe. Knowledge plays an important role in disease prevention. The objective of the present study was to examine sociodemographic factors associated with knowledge of high sodium-related diseases. The Malaysian Community Salt Survey (MyCoSS) was used in the present study for secondary analyses. It is a nationwide cross-sectional survey that was conducted in Malaysia. A non-parametric test to evaluate trends and a negative binomial regression were utilised to assess knowledge of high sodium-related diseases. Income, educational level, gender, ethnicity, house locality and hypertension were found to be significantly associated with knowledge of high sodium-related diseases. In particular, higher income earners, well-educated people, women, Malays, urban dwellers and hypertensive adults were more likely to have acquired a lot of knowledge of high sodium-related diseases compared to that acquired by lower income earners, less-educated people, men, individuals of other ethnic groups, rural dwellers and nonhypertensive adults. In conclusion, sociodemographic factors and hypertension play an important role in knowledge acquired about high sodium-related diseases. The findings of the present study could inform a future policy directed towards increasing knowledge about high sodium-related diseases among the population in Malaysia.

Prevalence, awareness, and associated factors of high blood pressure among female migrant workers in Central South China

BACKGROUND

Although many young Chinese women migrate to urban regions for better opportunities, little is known about the prevalence and awareness of having high blood pressure (HBP) in this population. This study investigated the prevalence, awareness, and factors associated with HBP among young female migrant workers in Central South China.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study to identify HBP (2017 ACC/AHA guidelines) among female migrant workers aged 18-45 years in Central South China. Demographics, anthropometric measurements, hypertension-related lifestyle, awareness of HBP, and blood pressure were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with HBP (blood pressure ≥ 130/80 mmHg).

RESULTS

Overall, 232 female migrants participated in the study (mean age 34.4; standard deviation: 6.4 years). The prevalence of HBP was 27.2% (95% CI [21.6-33.2]), and 88.9% of the participants were unaware of their HBP status. Having rural medical insurance (odds ratio [OR] = 20.7; 95% confidence interval 95% CI [2.1-204.8]), awareness of having HBP (OR = 5.1; 95% CI [1.4-18.5]), physical inactivity (OR = 2.9; 95% CI [1.1-7.9]), and being overweight/obese (OR = 2.7; 95% CI [1.3-6.1]) were independently associated with HBP.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed a high prevalence of HBP among young Chinese female migrant workers, as well as a high frequency of being unaware of their condition and some associated factors (rural medical insurance, awareness of having HBP, physical inactivity, and overweight/obesity). The uncontrolled HBP among young Chinese female migrant workers suggested that health education needs further promotion in such a population.

Health Literacy among Filipino Domestic Workers in Macao

Migrant worker is a global phenomenon that is associated with the health of individuals and populations. Filipino workers constitute the largest group of non-Chinese migrant workers in Macao, they are mainly employed as domestic workers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the status of health literacy (HL) and associated factors among Filipino domestic workers in Macao. The study is a cross-sectional study. Chi square's test and binary logistic regression models were used for data analyzing. Filipino who was employed by a family in Macao as a domestic worker within the valid contract period was eligible in the study. A total of 379 valid questionnaires were collected during December 2020 and March 2021. Health literacy was measured using the short-form Health Literacy Instrument (HLS-SF12). The results showed that only 37.4% of the respondents have sufficient health literacy. Age was an important factor that was associated with health literacy, with Filipino domestic workers younger than and equal to 30 years of age more likely to have inadequate health literacy. The results will help to make recommendations for further research and public health policy.

Health Related Quality of Life in Interstitial Lung Disease: Can We Use the Same Concepts Around the World?

Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) is increasingly viewed as an important patient-centered outcome by leading health organizations, clinicians, and patients alike. This is especially true in the interstitial lung disease community where patients often struggle with progressive and debilitating disease with few therapeutic options. In order to test the effectiveness of new pharmacologic therapies and non-pharmacologic interventions globally in ILD, this will require expansion of clinical research studies to a multinational level and HRQOL will be an important endpoint to many. In order to successfully expand trials across multiple nations and compare the results of studies between different communities we must recognize that there are differences in the concepts of HRQOL across the world and have strategies to address these differences. In this review, we will describe the different global influences on HRQOL both generally and in the context of ILD, discuss the processes of linguistic translation and cross-cultural adaptation of HRQOL Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), and highlight the gaps and opportunities for improving HRQOL measurement in ILD across the world.

Malaysian Health Literacy: Scorecard Performance from a National Survey

Health literacy is an indicator of a society's ability to make better health judgements for themselves and the people around them. This study investigated the prevalence of health literacy among Malaysian adults and provided an overall picture of the society's current health literacy status, which has not been previously assessed. The study also highlighted socio-demographic markers of communities with limited health literacy that may warrant future intervention. A population-based self-administered survey using the Health Literacy Survey Malaysian Questionnaire18 (HLS-M-Q18) instrument was conducted as part of the National Health Morbidity Survey 2019 in Malaysia. The nationwide survey utilized a two-staged stratified random sampling method. A sample of 9478 individuals aged 18 and above, drawn from the living quarter list, participated in the study. The health literacy score was divided into three levels; limited, sufficient, and excellent. Findings showed a majority of the Malaysian population had a sufficient health literacy level in all three domains-healthcare, diseases prevention and health promotion (49.1%, 44.2%, and 47.5%, respectively)-albeit leaning towards the lower end of the category with an average score of 35.5. The limited health literacy groups were prevalent among respondents with older age (68%), lower education level (64.8%), and lower household income (49.5%). The overall health literacy status for Malaysia was categorized at a lower sufficiency level. Future health literacy improvements should focus on communities with a limited health literacy level to improve the overall score.

The relationship between socioeconomic position and health literacy among urban and rural adults in regional China

BACKGROUND

To examine associations of socioeconomic position (SEP), separately indicated by education, monthly family average income (FAI) and occupation, with health literacy (HL) among adults in regional China.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among urban and rural adults (aged 25-69 years) who were randomly selected, using the probability proportionate to size sampling approach, from Nanjing municipality of China during October and December of 2016. HL, the outcome variable, was assessed using the Chinese Resident Health Literacy Scale. SEP, our independent variable, was separately measured with educational attainment, monthly family average income and occupation. Logistic regression models were introduced to examine SEP-HL association with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

Totally, 8698 participants completed the survey. The proportion of participants with unweighted and weighted adequate HL was 18.0% (95%CI = 17.2, 18.8%) and 19.9% (95%CI = 16.6, 23.6%), respectively, in this study. After adjustment for possible confounding factors, each SEP indicator was in significantly positive relation to both unweighted and weight HL level. Participants who obtained 13+ and 10-12 years educational attainment, respectively, had 2.41 (95%CI = 1.60, 3.64) and 1.68 (95%CI = 1.23, 2.29) times odds to record weighted adequate HL compared to their counterparts who were with 0-9 years education. Subjects within upper (OR = 1.92, 95%CI = 1.24, 2.98) and middle FAI tertile (OR = 1.59, 95%CI = 1.19, 2.13), respectively, were more likely to report weighted adequate HL relative to those who were within lower FAI tertile. White collars were more likely to have weighted adequate HL (OR = 1.33, 95%CI = 1.09, 1.61) than blue collars.

CONCLUSIONS

Each of education, FAI and occupation was positively associated with health literacy among urban and rural adults in China. The findings have important implications that different SEP indicators can be used to identify vulnerable residents in population-based health literacy promotion campaigns.

The prevalence and related factors for low health literacy in Xingtai: A cross-sectional survey in prefecture-level city

This study aimed to evaluate the low health literacy prevalence and its socio-demographic related factors in Xingtai.This study was a community-based, cross-sectional survey performed in Xingtai, with a sample size of 960. Participants' socio-demographic characteristics were collected, and their health literacy status was evaluated by the questionnaire designed by the 2012 Chinese Resident Health Literacy Survey.There were 904 (94.2%) participants who provided valid questionnaires and they were included in the analyses. The mean health literacy score was 63.0 ± 16.6; for its subscales, the mean scores of health literacy of basic knowledge and concepts, lifestyle, and health-related skills were 31.6 ± 8.7, 17.1 ± 4.7, and 14.3 ± 3.9, respectively. Low total health literacy prevalence was 83.1%; as for its subscales, the prevalence of low health literacy of basic knowledge and concepts, lifestyle, and health-related skills was 72.5%, 87.8%, and 87.4%, respectively. Meanwhile, age, male and rural location were positively correlated, but education level and annual household income were negatively correlated with low health literacy risk. Further multivariate analysis revealed that lower education level was the only independent related factor for low total health literacy, and the most important independent related factor for low total health literacy of basic knowledge and concepts, lifestyle and health-related skills.Low health literacy prevalence is 83.1%, and lower education level is the most critical related factor for low health literacy in Xingtai.

Health Literacy: An Interactive Outcome Among Secondary Students in Beijing

BACKGROUND

Health literacy enables a person to make good decisions regarding health care, disease prevention, and health promotion to maintain and improve health. Although health literacy research in China has gained increasing attention in recent years, most existing studies focus on adults rather than adolescents. In addition, little theory-driven empirical research has been conducted to fully understand the relationship among health literacy, its influencing factors, and health outcomes scored on a skills-based health literacy instrument.

OBJECTIVE

This study applied Manganello's framework to investigate how health literacy was related to its antecedents and health status in secondary students in Beijing, China.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 650 students in Years 7 to 9 (age 11-17 years) from four secondary schools. Students completed a self-administered questionnaire based on Manganello's health literacy framework, which measured key upstream determinants, including health literacy and self-report health status. Health literacy was measured on an 8-item skills-based instrument that assesses a person's ability to find, understand, appraise, and communicate health information in everyday life (scores range from 0-37). Descriptive statistics and path analysis were conducted to investigate the mediating role of health literacy in predicting health status.

KEY RESULTS

Overall, the average scores of students' health literacy was 26.37 (±5.89). Manganello's framework was supported by the data collected (χ2/df = 2.049, p = .001, comparative fix index = 0.966, root mean square error of approximation = 0.041). Personal self-efficacy (r = 0.11, p = .007), social support (r = 0.18, p < .001), and school environment (r = 0.27, p < .001) predicted health literacy, which in turn predicted students' health status (r = 0.12, p = .005).

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescent health literacy is not only a person's capability to protect health, but also an interactive outcome with the broader environment. Promoting health literacy could be a useful strategy to improve health status for adolescents; however, a holistic approach is needed to increase students' self-efficacy, promote social support, and create positive school environments to achieve optimal health literacy and health outcomes. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2021;5(1):e1-e14.] PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: We investigated how health literacy was related to its influencing factors and health status among secondary students in Years 7 to 9 in Beijing, China. Students with low self-efficacy, low social support, and low perceptions of positive school environment were more likely to have low health literacy, which in turn predicted poor health status.

Exploring health literacy in Wuhan, China: a cross-sectional analysis

Background

In recent years, research on health literacy has become increasingly focused on the health care system and public health. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate health literacy and analyse the risk factors that affect health literacy in Wuhan, China.

Methods

Multistage stratified random sampling was used to select 5304 urban and rural residents aged 15 to 69 years from 204 monitoring points in 15 districts of Wuhan. Using the Chinese Citizen Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) (2018 edition), a face-to-face survey was conducted from November to December 2018. Risk factors that may affect health literacy were assessed using the Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression models.

Results

The knowledge rate of health literacy was relatively low (19.3%). The knowledge rate of health-related behaviour and lifestyle (BAL, 17.3%) was the lowest of the three aspects of health literacy, and the knowledge rate of chronic diseases (CD, 19.0%) was the lowest of the six dimensions of health literacy. Respondents who lived in urban areas, had higher education levels, worked as medical staff, had a higher household income and did not suffer from chronic diseases were likely to have higher health literacy.

Conclusions

The health literacy levels of citizens in Wuhan are insufficient and need to improve.

Prevalence and risk factors of low health literacy in residents of Anhui province: A cross-sectional survey

This survey aimed to evaluate the prevalence of low health literacy and correlations of demographic characteristics with low health literacy risk in residents of Anhui province.A total of 5120 residents of Anhui province were interviewed in this cross-sectional survey, and 4816 (94.1%) gave valid responses. Sociodemographic characteristics were collected. Health literacy and its 3 subscales, including basic knowledge and concepts, lifestyle, and health-related skill, were assessed. Low health literacy was defined as <80.0% of the total score or score of each subscale.Mean total health literacy score was 62.7±17.2 (maximum 100 points), and was 31.5 ± 9.0 (maximum 47 points), 17.0 ± 4.8 (maximum 28 points), and 14.2 ± 4.1 (maximum 25 points) in terms of basic knowledge and concepts score, lifestyle score, and health-related skill score, respectively. The prevalence of low health literacy was 81.4%, and was 71.3% in terms of basic knowledge and concepts subscale, 87.9% with regard to lifestyle subscale, and 86.3% in view of health-related skill subscale. In addition, older age (P = .001), male (P < .001), decreased education level (P < .001), lower annual household income (P < .001), and location at rural area (P < .001) associated with increased risk of low health literacy. Moreover, multivariate logistic regression revealed that male, lower education level, and location at rural area were independent risk factors of low health literacy (all P < .05).The prevalence of low health literacy is high in residents of Anhui province, and male, lower education level, as well as location at rural area are independent risk factors of low health literacy.

The Relationship Between Health Literacy, Social Support, Depression, and Frailty Among Community-Dwelling Older Patients With Hypertension and Diabetes in China

Population aging is one of the major challenges facing modern society and has attracted global attention. With population aging becoming a global phenomenon, the impact of age-related diseases on health is increasing rapidly. Frailty is one of the most pressing issues facing older adults. The purpose of this study was to explore the interrelationship between health literacy, social support, depression, and frailty among older patients with hypertension and diabetes in China. No studies have investigated the mediating effects of social support and depression between health literacy and frailty. The findings of this study can be applied to help ameliorate frailty in older hypertensive and diabetic patients. Data were collected from 637 older hypertensive and diabetic patients aged 65 years and older in Sichuan Province, China. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the hypothesized relationship among the variables. The results showed that 42.4% of the participants suffered from frailty. The mean scores for health literacy, social support, depression, and frailty were 13.6 ± 5.7, 35.7 ± 6.5, 4.0 ± 3.4, and 3.5 ± 2.1, respectively. Social support had a direct negative association with frailty (β = −0.128, 95%CI: [−0.198, −0.056]), and depression had a direct positive association with frailty (β = 0.326, 95%CI: [0.229, 0.411]), while social support had no direct association with depression. Health literacy had a direct positive association with social support (β = 0.151, 95%CI: [0.077, 0.224]) and a direct negative association with depression (β = −0.173, 95%CI: [−0.246, −0.1]), while health literacy had an indirect negative association with frailty through the mediating effect of social support and depression. To mitigate frailty in older patients with hypertension and diabetes, measures that provide social support, and enhance health literacy, while alleviating depression, should be considered, along with greater attention to patients who are divorced, widowed, or unmarried, those with comorbidities, and those with lower socioeconomic status.

Health literacy and education level correlates of participation and outcome in a remotely delivered epilepsy self-management program

SIGNIFICANCE

Health literacy, the ability to understand necessary health information to make proper health decisions, has been linked to greater frequency of hospitalizations. However, there is limited literature on the associations between health literacy and outcomes in patients with epilepsy, and thus, this secondary analysis investigates the associations between health literacy and outcomes in patients with epilepsy enrolled in the self-management intervention "Self-management for people with epilepsy and a history of negative events" (SMART). We examined the associations between higher health literacy and higher education level and outcomes of the SMART trial.

METHODS

This is a secondary analysis of data from the SMART self-management intervention, where individuals were randomized to the SMART intervention or a 6-month waitlist (WL) control. Health literacy was assessed at baseline before randomization using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM-R). Education level was self-reported by participants at baseline. Pearson correlations between REALM-R scores and continuous demographic and clinical variables were conducted. Point-biserial Pearson correlations were computed for REALM-R and dichotomous variables. The effect of education on change in negative health events (NHEs) counts from baseline to six months was conducted using a linear regression. A logistic regression with health literacy and randomization arm as predictors and improvement in NHE (1 = improvement, 0 = no change or increased NHEs at 6 months) as the outcome was conducted.

RESULTS

Lower education and lower income were significantly correlated with lower health literacy (p < 0.001 and p = 0.03). Higher education level was associated with a greater improvement in 6-month seizure counts (r_s(105) = 0.29, p = 0.002), and a greater improvement in total 6-month NHEs (r_s(95) = 0.20, p = 0.045). Health literacy was not associated with change in NHEs or with study retention.

CONCLUSIONS

The SMART intervention appears effective for individuals regardless of health literacy competency. Nevertheless, individuals with higher levels of education have fewer epilepsy complications, and thus, those with limited education may still require additional support while participating in epilepsy self-management programs.

The Urban-Rural Disparity in the Status and Risk Factors of Health Literacy: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Central China

Health literacy is the ability of individuals to access, process, and understand health information to make decisions regarding treatment and their health on the whole; it is critical to maintain and improve public health. However, the health literacy of urban and rural populations in China has been little known. Thus, this study aims to assess the status of health literacy and explore the differences of its possible determinants (e.g., socio-economic factors) among urban and rural populations in Henan, China. A cross-sectional study, 78,646 participants were recruited from a populous province in central China with a multi-stage random sampling design. The Chinese Resident Health Literacy Scale was adopted to measure the health literacy of the respondents. In the participants, the level of health literacy (10.21%) in central China was significantly lower than the national average, and a big gap was identified between urban and rural populations (16.92% vs. 8.09%). A noticeable difference was reported in different aspects and health issues of health literacy between urban and rural populations. The health literacy level was lower in those with lower levels of education, and a significant difference was identified in the level of health literacy among people of different ages and occupations in both urban and rural areas. Note that in rural areas, as long as residents educated, they all had higher odds to exhibit basic health literacy than those uneducated; in rural areas, compared with those aged 15 to 24 years, residents aged 45 to 54 years (OR = 0.846,95% CI (0.730, 0.981)), 55 to 64 years (OR = 0.716,95% CI (0.614, 0.836)) and above 65 years (OR = 0.679, 95% CI (0.567, 0.812)) were 84.6%, 71.6%, and 67.9%, respectively, less likely to exhibit basic health literacy. Considering the lower health literacy among rural residents compared with their urban counterparts, a reorientation of the health policy-making for Chinese rural areas is recommended. This study suggests that urban-rural disparity about health literacy risk factors should be considered when implementing health literacy promotion intervention.