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Health Literacy: Development of A Korean Health Literacy Assessment Tool  

Kim, Sung-Soo (Human Medicine and Social Science Unit, Pusan National University College of Medicine)
Kim, Sang-Hyun (Dept. of Sociology, Pusan National University)
Lee, Sang-Yeoup (Medical Education Unit, Pusan National University College of Medicine)
Publication Information
Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion / v.22, no.4, 2005 , pp. 215-227 More about this Journal
Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this study is to develop a Korean Health Literacy Assessment Tool (KHLAT) and to encourage researchers in the public health education field to look at the concept of health literacy as one of the possible strategies to design and develop more effective health education campaigns in Korea. Methods: Data with 117 sample subjects was collected from various classes such as continuing adult classes and undergraduate classes. REALM, well-known and widely used health literacy tool in the US, was translated and modified for cultural considerations. The Korean modified version of the REALM was administrated to the targeted subjects who were asked to fill the survey questionnaires. Results: The findings appear to be consistent with the OCED reading literacy among Koreans. Health literacy among Korean seems to be more serious problem than we have expected before and this could be a major obstacle to effective health public education campaigns. Conclusions: In order to develop better public health education materials as well as health education programs, it may be critical for us as health educators to inform future physicians as well as practicing physicians of the important link between health literacy and the effective health education(or communication). It is now time for us to make sincere efforts in understanding health literacy one of effective strategies toward improving the public health.
Keywords
Health Literacy; Health Education; Health Communication;
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