• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.75-89
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was performed to identify the level of health literacy and to investigate the relationship between the health literacy and preventive health care use in middle-aged adults in Korea. Methods: A total of 315 adults aged 40 to 64 years living in Seoul participated in the study. Data were collected from December 15-24, 2010 from outpatient hospitals, clinics, workplaces and other locations in the community. Health literacy was measured using the Functional Health Literacy and Self-rated Health Literacy Questionnaires. Preventive health service use was defined as receiving screening (general health checkups, gastric and colorectal cancer, mammogram, and pap smear) and influenza vaccination. Descriptive analysis, t-test, and ANOVA were used. Results: The mean of functional health literacy was 3.87 (score range 0-6) and the self-rated health literacy was 60.08 (score range 16-80). The most difficult items of the self-rated questionnaires were patient educational materials provided by health care providers and medical forms. The most difficult items of functional health literacy were information-based, including nutritional facts and clinical schedules. Association between health literacy and preventive health service use was not found. Conclusions: Further study is necessary with larger samples and with considerations for their education level, age, and preventive health care use.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.93-108
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current state of health literacy research and to explore the directions of improvement health literacy in Korea. Methods: A review of literature was conducted via an electronic database and citation tracking reference. A total of 173 articles were identified, where and then 41 articles were selected for review that met the inclusion criteria. Two authors independently reviewed the articles using the matrix table and together examined together the three aspects of the studies: research methods, health literacy instrument, and results. Results: Most of the articles were descriptive-correlation studies, but there were one intervention study and six methodology studies that were developing health literacy measures and instrument related items and etc. More troubling sufficient samples and sampling methods were lacking at the population level. The validity of the used health literacy instruments was not sufficient reported. Conclusions: Health literacy instruments need to be validated in various population and contexts. Additionally, effective strategies to improve health literacy included teach-back, pictogram, and decision aids need to be tested in Korean health care system.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.225-237
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• 2020

Purpose: This descriptive correlational study examined the acculturation, health literacy, and factors affecting the health literacy of Vietnamese and Chinese female marriage immigrants. Methods: The sample consisted of 90 Vietnamese and 89 Chinese female marriage immigrants who participated in Multicultural Family Support Centers' programs in metropolitan city A. The health literacy was measured by HLI-FMI (Health Literacy Index for Female Marriage Immigrants), acculturation was measured using the Acculturation Index for female marriage immigrants. Descriptive statistics, t-test, Chi-square, one-way ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression were performed for data analysis. Results: The Chinese group (M=9.80±2.72) showed a significantly higher health literacy than the Vietnamese group (M=8.07±3.57). The factors affecting health literacy among Chinese were the length of residence (β=.442 p<.001), and adaptation to Korean culture (β=.381, p=.007). Conclusion: To develope graded education programs for promoting the health literacy of Chinese and Vietnamese female marriage immigrants, the length of residence can be considered. Continuously providing a support system to help them adapt to Korean culture can also have a positive effect on health literacy.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.215-227
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• 2005

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.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.93-103
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the oral health behavior in the upper grades of elementary school in relation to oral health literacy and oral health knowledge. Methods: A survey on the general characteristics, oral health literacy, oral health knowledge, and oral health behavior was administered to students in the upper grades of five elementary schools in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, South Korea, from March to June, 2018. Finally, a total of 236 questionnaires were analyzed. Results: Oral health literacy in accordance with oral health behavior was high when oral health behavior was high (p<0.05). The results of multiple regression analysis of the general characteristics, oral health knowledge, oral health literacy, and oral health behavior were analyzed as follows: Y (oral health behavior) = 2.028 + 0.113 (oral health literacy) (p<0.05). Conclusions: To ensure appropriate oral health behavior among elementary school students, it is necessary to develop systematic programs in elementary schools to provide oral health education to increase oral health literacy and oral health knowledge.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.494-507
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to provide a clear definition of the health literacy for patients with cardiovascular disease by analyzing the dimensions and properties using Hybrid concept analysis. Methods: The concept of health literacy of patients with cardiovascular disease was analyzed according to the cyclic process of theoretical phase-field work phase-final analysis phase presented in the Hybrid model. We reviewed 26 literatures and conducted in-depth interviews with 13 patients with cardiovascular disease. Results: The concept of health literacy in cardiovascular patients is derived from two dimensions and five attributes. Literacy skills, health information search ability and health information utilization skills were derived as attributes in the individual functional dimension, while active communication with the medical team and utilization of health information support resources were derived at the interrelational dimension. It is defined as the individualized and integrated ability of an individual to explore and utilize the various health information needed to make appropriate health decisions during the chronic course after diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, to communicate proactively with medical staffs and to utilize support resources. Conclusion: This study will contribute to the development and related research of health literacy measurement tools that can be used in cardiovascular nursing practice based on the attributes and indicators of health literacy for patients with cardiovascular disease.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.69-82
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between general characteristics and oral health behavior, oral health knowledge, and oral health literacy for adult workers. Methods: This study chose some adult workers located D City by convenience sampling method, and accepted those who understood the purpose of the study and agreed with a survey as subjects. The final study subjects were 297 except 24 with unsound questionnaires among a total of 321 questionnaires. The contents of a survey were demographic characteristics, oral health behavior, oral health knowledge, and oral literacy, and the survey was done by a self-administered questionnaire. Results: In the verbal oral health literacy distribution based on REALM standard of the subjects, a scale of 7-8, 45-60 points by score was the highest with 62.0%. In average monthly household income and oral health knowledge level of general characteristics, oral health literacy was statistically significant, and was statistically significant according to oral health literacy, monthly income of house hold, and marital status as well, and was statistically significant in oral health knowledge and oral health literacy level according to oral health behavior and in the oral health knowledge level depending on a regular checkup. And In experience existence and nonexistence of oral health education and understanding and misunderstanding of dentistry and dental health education, and main body of the decision of dental treatment, verbal oral health literacy of oral health knowledge and oral health literacy was significant. It can be seen that based on correlation among general characteristics, oral health knowledge level, verbal oral health literacy, and functional oral health literacy, there is a correlation among gender and education level, age and average monthly income, and age and marital status. Conclusions: This study presented the need for oral health literacy along with the oral health knowledge of oral health behavior affecting adult workers' oral health, and tried to establish the connection among them. Accordingly, it is thought that an improvement plan of oral health literacy for the prevention and promotion of adult workers' dental disease in the future.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.205-214
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• 2023

Purpose: This descriptive survey compared health literacy and health behaviors between Korean women with and without breast cancer. Methods: In total, 95 women with and 97 women without breast cancer (age range: 40-69 years) completed the survey. Health literacy and health behavior were analyzed in women with and without breast cancer, using the Newest Vital Sign. Results: Women with breast cancer were less frequently alcohol drinkers (14.7% vs. 47.4%, p < .001) and more frequently exercised (65.3% vs. 49.5%, p = .027), obtained health information (17.9% vs. 8.2%, p = .047), and attended health education programs (10.5% vs. 1.0%, p = .005) than women without cancer. In both groups, women with higher literacy levels outnumbered those with limited literacy. Conclusion: The results indicated that women with breast cancer were more likely to engage in health-promotion activities than women without cancer, and this increased their health literacy levels. The findings could inform interventions involving breast cancer prevention methods.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.211-227
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare health literacy levels of Asian immigrant women and factors associated with health literacy focusing on Korean-Chinese and other Asian immigrants in Korea. Methods: Data were drawn from 258 immigrant women, comprising 56 Korean-Chinese and 202 other immigrants from the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, Cambodia, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Taiwan, and Han-Chinese. The Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine - Short Form (REALM-SF) was used to assess health literacy, which consisted of seven medical words in Korean (behavior, exercise, menopause, rectal, antibiotics, anemia, and jaundice). Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA with $Sch{\acute{e}}ffe$ post hoc test, and hierarchical regression. Results: Korean-Chinese women showed significantly higher levels of health literacy ($M=6.41{\pm}1.07$), compared to their other immigrant counterparts ($M=4.55{\pm}2.15$). While Korean-Chinese women with longer time since immigration (p=.048) reported higher health literacy, for other immigrants, those living with children (p<.001), longer time since immigration (p=.011), and greater Korean language proficiency (p=.004) showed an association with higher health literacy. Conclusion: When providing health care services and health education, health care professionals should consider differences in levels of health literacy and factors associated with health literacy among Korean Chinese and other immigrants.

• 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.