• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.477-488
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the health literacy of inpatients at general hospitals. Methods: The sample of this study was 157 inpatients from secondary general hospitals located in a J city during April 1st to April 15th, 2011. The linguistic health literacy was measured by Korean Health Literacy Assessment Tool (KHLAT). The functional health literacy was measured by Korean Functional Health Literacy Test (KFHLT). Results: The mean score of the linguistic health literacy was $36.03{\pm}16.33$ (percent of correct answer: 54.6%). The mean score of the functional health literacy was $9.62{\pm}4.75$ (percent of correct answer: 56.6%). The linguistic and functional health literacy were by age, education level, marital status, socioeconomic status and their health status. There was statistically a significant correlation between the linguistic health literacy and the functional health literacy (r=.75, p<.001). Conclusion: The health literacy of inpatients was strongly related to education level and age. There is a need to develop the educational materials for adjusting the health literacy level of inpatients.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.570-582
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• 2016

Purpose: The aims of this study were to identify health literacy and health promoting behaviors in adolescents and to examine the relationship between these variables. Methods: A descriptive correlational study design was used with self-administrated questionnaires. A total of 212 third-year middle school students in G province were conveniently sampled. Korea health literacy assessment tool-2, Korean functional health literacy test, and the health promoting lifestyle profile were used. Data analyses were performed using SPSS/WIN 21.0. Results: Linguistic health literacy and functional health literacy scores were $37.18{\pm}17.74$ and $11.86{\pm}2.77$, respectively. Health promoting behaviors was $2.95{\pm}0.34$. The relationships between linguistic health literacy and health promoting behaviors (r=.405, p<.001) and between functional health literacy and health promoting behaviors (r=.168, p<.001) showed statistically significant positive correlations. Linguistic health literacy was also positively related with functional health literacy (r=.196, p<.001) with statistical significance. Conclusion: The degree of health literacy of middle school students was somewhat low, but was significantly correlated with health promoting behaviors. To improve health promoting behaviors, there needs to be an increase in health literacy.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.199-208
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted to analyze the association between health literacy and health behavior and the effect of health literacy on health behavior in late school-age children. Methods: Data were obtained from 333 participants who were $5^{th}$ and $6^{th}$-grade students sampled from 8 elementary schools in Busan. Rapid Estimate of Adolescent Literacy in Medicine (REALM-Teen) and Newest Vital Sign (NVS) was used for assessing linguistic and functional health literacy, and the health promotion behavior score was measured for health behavior. Results: The percentage of those with limited linguistic and functional health literacy was high (47.1%, 56.8%). Linguistic health literacy (r=.38, p<.001) and functional health literacy (r=.11, p=.048) had a correlation with health behavior. Health behavior was significantly associated with perceived health status (${\beta}=1.94$, p<.001), number of times of health education (${\beta}=0.18$, p<.001), academic achievement (p<.001), home literacy environment (${\beta}=0.13$, p=.016), perception of changes after health education (p=.011), and linguistic health literacy (${\beta}=0.23$, p<.001). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that children with adequate health literacy are more likely to do health behaviors. Therefore, it is important to develop educational strategies to raise children's health literacy level and consequently to induce them to perform more health behaviors in daily life.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.251-261
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the levels of and the related factors to health literacy and health behavior compliance in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 121 hospitalized patients with coronary artery disease. The structured questionnaires were used to measure the levels of health literacy and health behavior compliance. Results: The average linguistic health literacy score was $32.23{\pm}21.46$, the functional health literacy score was $6.51{\pm}5.08$, and the health behavior compliance score was $61.66{\pm}15.53$. The levels of education (${\beta}$=.35), income (${\beta}$=.27), and perceived health status (${\beta}$=.21) were found significant, explaining 41.8% of the variance in linguistic health literacy. The levels of education (${\beta}$=.23), income (${\beta}$=.27), age (${\beta}$=-.24), and family support (${\beta}$=.22) were found to be significant, explaining 50.9% of the variance in functional health literacy. The levels of education (${\beta}$=.27), family support (${\beta}$=.20), and linguistic health literacy (${\beta}$=.40) were found to be the significant factors, which explained 45.1% of the variance in health behavior compliance. Linguistic health literacy specifically explained 9.5% of health behavior compliance. Conclusion: Health literacy was associated with health behavior compliance, influencing the factors of health behavior compliance. These findings suggest that the interventions for improving health literacy are necessary to enhance health behavior compliance in patients with coronary artery disease.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.62-70
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to identify health literacy among elderly and to investigate the relationships between healthy literacy and health status. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 158 participants between July and December 2019. The linguistic and functional health literacy (using the KHLAT and NVS) and self-rated physical and mental health were assessed. Above third of elderly have difficulties reading and understanding linguistic and functional health literacy. There were significant differences in health literacy according to residence, spouse, living together, educational level, occupation, monthly income, and number of diagnosed disease. Linguistic and functional health literacy and self-rated physical and mental health are closely related. Sociodemographic and disease related factors such as residence, educational level, monthly income, and multi-morbidity need to be considered when developing educational programs to improve health literacy. It could be possible to promote health status by improving the health literacy through individualized convergent educational program.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.322-331
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify health literacy levels of elementary school students. Methods: Participants were 331 fifth and sixth graders in nine elementary schools located in Gyeongsangnam-do. Instruments were 42 health-related words derived from fifth-grade textbook 'Health in Daily Life' for linguistic health literacy, modified Korean Health Literacy Assessment Tool (KHLAT) for numeracy section of functional health literacy, items from a snack box and newspaper article for reading comprehension section of functional health literacy. Data were collected from July 15 to August 15, 2013. Results: The mean score for linguistic health literacy was $24.02{\pm}7.16$ of 42 (57.2% were correct answers). The mean score for functional health literacy was $9.27{\pm}2.30$ of 12 (77.3% were correct answers). There were significant differences in health literacy by grade and academic performance. Conclusion: This study results show that both linguistic and functional health literacy among elementary school students were not high enough to use health-related information and make appropriate health-related decisions. Therefore, it is important to develop strategies aimed at increasing health literacy levels, especially focused on underperforming students. It is also necessary that studies be done on the factors affecting the health literacy of elementary-school students.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.879-891
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the oral health literacy of foreign students in Korea regarding their utilization of dental clinic services and oral care products. Methods: This study measured the oral health literacy through a self-administered questionnaire that were distributed among 145 foreign students in Seoul and 153 Korean students in Wonju, Gangwon province. The questionnaire is used to assess the oral health literacy with a total of 92 questions including 30 questions on linguistic oral health literacy, and 40 questions on functional oral health literacy (sentence translation ability 27 questions, document decoding ability 13 questions), and 22 questions on the general characteristics. The collected data were analyzed by frequency test, ${\chi}^2$, independent t-test, and ANOVA with p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The linguistic oral health literacy awareness score was doubly lower in foreign students $20.5{\pm}22.4%$ than Korean students $53.9{\pm}18.4%$ (p<0.05), three words were not statistically significant with less than 10% of all the foreign and Korean students. Correct answer rate of sentence translation ability was statistically significant in all questions by foreign students $26.7{\pm}27.1%$ and Korean students $99.0{\pm}2.3%$ (p<0.05). Correct answer rate of document decoding ability showed a relatively small difference between foreign students and Korean students with $54.7{\pm}33.1%$ and $87.3{\pm}8.7%$, respectively, but it was statistically significant in all questions (p<0.05). Oral health literacy according to residence period and Korean language class level of foreign students were the most correlated among the other variables (p<0.05). Conclusions: Dental terminology was difficult for ordinary people to understand regardless of the Korean language proficiency levels, so it is recommended and needed to express dental clinical terms in simple layman's term or to use illustrations to dental patients. In case of foreign residents in Korea, interpretation services are needed. Additionally, labels and instructions of oral hygiene products retailed in Korea with the consideration for foreigners are required.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 2024

The study aims to comprehend the health needs of multicultural families, identify relevant policies, and explore ways to enhance health information accessibility through Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Employing a qualitative research method, the health status of multicultural families was analyzed through literature review, followed by in-depth interviews. The findings revealed a lower priority given to health policies for multicultural families compared to other governmental sectors, with limited discussion on leveraging ICT for improved accessibility. In-depth interviews highlighted four main themes: "Early experiences in Korean society," "Language barriers in medical facilities," "Unmet healthcare needs for various reasons," and "High demand for health-related services." To safeguard health rights and enhance information accessibility, we recommend strengthening linguistic support in healthcare institutions, implementing government efforts for multicultural families, and designing user-centered ICT platforms.