• 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.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.48-55
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• 2023

Objective : This study aims to investigate the concept of mental health literacy, its evolution, and its significance in modern healthcare practices. Methods : This paper reviews the evolution of mental health literacy, examining pertinent studies both within the country and internationally. It also addresses the limitations and challenges associated with mental health diagnoses. Results : Findings from various studies indicate that public awareness and recognition of mental health issues are generally inadequate. Identified causes of mental health conditions by study participants point to personal and societal influences, while biological factors are frequently neglected. In South Korea, there is a notable preference for non-professional support over psychiatric interventions. Conclusion : This study highlights the growing importance of mental health literacy in today's society, emphasizing the need for accurate understanding of mental health issues and effective treatment approaches. Similar to physical health literacy, mental health literacy should be considered a basic human right. This perspective marks a shift from a knowledge monopoly held by experts to the inclusion and active involvement of 'people with lived experience' in the mental health service system.

• Health Communication
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.233-241
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of providing written information for coronary artery disease on health behavior compliance related self-efficacy, knowledge of disease, anxiety, and educational satisfaction depending on patients' health literacy. Methods: The participants in this study were 40 patients who underwent coronary angiography or coronary intervention, and depending on the level of health literacy 30 patients were high group and 10 patients were low group. Each group was evaluated on health behavior compliance related self-efficacy, knowledge of disease, anxiety, and educational satisfaction with providing written information. Results: By providing written information in the group with high health literacy, there was a significant difference in health behavior compliance related self-efficacy, knowledge of disease, but there was no significant difference in anxiety variable. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in health behavior compliance related self-efficacy, knowledge of disease, and anxiety by providing written information in the group with low health literacy. Also, there was no significant difference in the educational satisfaction between high and low group of health literacy after providing written information. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop educational materials that can be applied to clinical nursing field with considering health literacy of patients with coronary artery disease. In addition to providing written information, it is also necessary to develop other educational intervention programs such as video and personalized counseling that may be helpful for coronary patients with low health literacy and investigate their effectiveness.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.357-377
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors affecting the adolescent's health literacy. First, we examined whether information literacy affects adolescents' understanding of health information, and then analyzed how demographic statistics and various other characteristics of adolescents affect health literacy. Data was collected through a survey of 277 middle and high school students. The results of analysis of Multi-regression showed that information literacy was found to have a positive impact on adolescent's health literacy. In addition, factors such as gender, grade level, academic performance, health concern, and frequency of use of digital devices were statistically significant in their affect on adolescent's health literacy. The results of this study can be used as basic data to improve adolescent' comprehension of health information.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.6-15
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• 2012

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to identify the level of health literacy and to determine its impact on disease-related knowledge and adherence to self-care in adults with hypertension. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study in which patients with hypertension were recruited from outpatient hypertension clinics in Seoul, Korea from December, 2009 to February, 2010. A total 186 patients completed series of questionnaires to assess health literacy, disease-related knowledge, and adherence to self-care. Hierarchical linear regression was used to determine whether health literacy was associated with disease-related knowledge and adherence to self-care. Results: Seventy-one (38.2%) and seventy-two (38.7%) patients had inadequate and marginal health literacy, respectively. In hierarchical linear regression, health literacy independently predicted disease-related knowledge (${\beta}$= .43, p < .001) and adherence to self-care (${\beta}$= .37, p < .001) after controlling for age, education level, having a job or not, and body mass index. Conclusion: These findings show that health care providers need to pay attention to patients with hypertension who have inadequate health literacy. Further, it is recommended to develop and implement new strategies for assessing health literacy in clinical practices. Interventions to improve health literacy could promote disease-related knowledge and adherence to self-care in patients with hypertension.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.1-13
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was performed to identify factors related to perceived health status among patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This is cross-sectional observational study. Respondents were 106 visitors in an outpatient diabetes clinic of a university hospital. Self-report questionnaire which included general information inquiry, diabetes-related, sociopsychological factors, functional health literacy and perceived health status was used for this study. The data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics, independent simple t-test, one-way ANOVA, and hierarchical multiple linear regression. All analysis were conducted using SAS 9.3. Results: Among the respondents, 43.4% engaged in poorly perceived health status. After adjusting for control variables, functional health literacy is significantly related to perceived health status(${\beta}$=0.095, p=0.016). Conclusion: Independent of diabetes-related, sociopsychological factors, higher functional health literacy is associated with better perceived health status of patients with type 2 diabetes. In order to improve perceived health status in the type 2 diabetes patients, it is necessary to develop strategy to enhance the functional health literacy.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.293-302
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify the influence of health literacy and health empowerment on health behavior practice in elderly patients with coronary artery disease. Methods: 239 elderly outpatients older than 65 years of age were included. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics including independent t-test, ANOVA, and hierarchical regression. Results: Major factors having a significant impact on health behavior practice were health literacy (${\beta}=.26$, p<.001) and health empowerment (${\beta}=.32$, p<.001). Health literacy was increased by 4.7% after controlling for general and health-related characteristics. Health empowerment increased by 5.9% after controlling for general and health-related characteristics, and health literacy. The two variables explained 35% of the variance in health behavior practice (F=7.74, p<.001). Conclusion: The main findings of this study can be utilized as the foundation for developing programs to promote health empowerment and health behavior practice of the elderly population. Furthermore, the results of the study can also be used to establish health-related strategies.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.386-392
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• 2009

Purpose: This descriptive study was done to identify the relationship between health literacy and health status and to provide basic data for developing nursing interventions for Korean-Chinese elders living in Yanbian, China. Methods: For data collection, intentional sampling of 300 elders was used. The questionnaire was composed of 5 items based on "Ministry of Health, the People's Republic of China(2008)" to measure health literacy, 33 health status items from the "Korean Health Status Measure for Elderly People" developed by Shin(2002), revised for use in China, and 9 general characteristics. Data were analyzed using SPSS Win 13.0 program. Results: Total level of health literacy was relatively high(68.7%). Elders had high scores for taking medicines according to doctor's instruction, but lower ones for full comprehension through communication with doctors. Health status was high for emotional, physical, and social function in that order. There were significant differences between general characteristics and health status for gender, age, marital status, education, family, smoking, and alcohol consumption in that order. Results of multiple regression analysis for factors influencing health status showed that self-report health level was the most influential, followed by health literacy, age, gender. Conclusion: Health literacy is the main factor affecting health promotion among minority elders indicating a need to develop health promotion programs for elders who have low health literacy.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.195-203
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the level of functional health literacy and its influence on perceived health status in Korean older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Daegu, Kyungpook and Susan province. A total of 103 older adults aged 65 yr or older were interviewed in person between July 1 to August 30, 2007. Results: A high proportion of older adults were unable to read and understand written basic medical instructions. Only 40-50% were able to comprehend directions for taking medication four times a day or on an empty stomach. Only 11-38% were able to understand information regarding treatment procedure, informed consent, or educational material for elderly fall prevention. Individuals who were older, single, and had less education and income were more likely to have lower functional health literacy. After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, individuals with lower health literacy had poorly perceived health status. Conclusion: Many Korean older adults have a very low level of fuctional literacy. Low health literacy was independently associated with poorly perceived health status.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 2017

Objectives: This study thus set out to examine the health literacy and self-care behaviors of community-dwelling elderly patients with hypertension and investigate their relations and influential factors, thus providing basic data to develop a nursing intervention program to promote self-care behaviors among hypertension patients. Methods: The subjects include 180 hypertension patients using community health centers, public senior centers, and welfare centers in Jeju. Results: The subjects scored a mean of 49.8 (${\pm}12.4$) points on health literacy and 55.8 (${\pm}6.7$) points on self-care behaviors. In the results of hierarchical regression analysis, health literacy independently predicted self-care behaviors (${\beta}=.12$, p=.050) after controlling for general characteristics, hypertension-related knowledge and self-efficacy. Conclusions: These results suggest that interventions for improving health literacy are important to enhance elder's ability of self-care behaviors. It is necessary to understand the health literacy of elderly patients with hypertension before providing them with educational intervention and information and to develop appropriate educational materials and intervention programs.