Health-related behaviors moderate the association between age and self-reported health literacy among Taiwanese women. Issue 6 (3rd July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Duong, Tuyen-Van; Sørensen, Kristine; Pelikan, Jürgen M.; Van den Broucke, Stephan; Lin, I-Feng; Lin, Ying-Chin; Huang, Hsiao-Ling; Chang, Peter Wushou
• Is Part Of: Women & health. Volume 58:Issue 6(2018)
• Page Start: 632
• Page End: 646
• Publication Date: 2018-07-03
• Subjects: Age -- community involvement -- health literacy -- health-related television -- women; Women -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Women -- Health and hygiene -- United States -- Periodicals; Women's health services -- Periodicals; Gynecology -- Periodicals; Women in medicine -- Periodicals; 613.0424405
• DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2017.1333074
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0363-0242

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The role of health-related behaviors in the association between age and health literacy has not been well-elucidated. The present cross-sectional study evaluated the interactions between age and health-related behaviors in 942 women in Taiwan between February and October 2013. Women aged 18–78 years were randomly sampled and recruited from the national administrative system. Self-reported health literacy was measured by the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47) in Mandarin, asking about sociodemographics and essential health-related behaviors (watching health-related television, community involvement). The interviews were conducted confidentially by well-trained interviewers after having participants' consent. In multiple linear regression models adjusted for education attainment, self-perceived social status, ability to pay for medication, and health-related behaviors, health literacy was significantly negatively related to age (unstandardized regression coefficient, B = −0.04; 95% confidence interval [CI] = (−0.07; 0.00); p = .03). The lower health literacy among older women was significantly modified by watching health-related television programs (from "rarely/not-at-all", B = −0.08 (−0.12, −0.04), p < .001 to "often"; B = 0.10 (0.07, 0.12); p < .001) and community involvement (from "rarely/not-at-all", B = −0.06 (−0.10, −0.03); p = .001 to "often", B = 0.06 (0.03, 0.08); p < .001). Specific health behaviors were protective of older women's health literacy and likely their health.