• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study is to clarify the level of health literacy, health risk perception and health behavior of Korean elders and to determine the impact of their health literacy and health risk perception on their health behavior. Methods: A descriptive correlation study was conducted with 188 elders aged 65 or older in senior welfare centers in Busan. Questionnaires were used to measure levels of health literacy, health risk perception, and health behavior. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis test, Pearson's correlation, and hierarchical regression were performed. Results: 43.6% of the subjects had low levels of health literacy. There was a negative relation between health literacy and health risk perception, and between health risk perception and health behavior. There was a positive relation between health literacy and health behavior. Health concern, health literacy affected health behavior. Health literacy independently accounted for 24% of health behavior. Health risk perception didn't affect health behavior. Conclusion: Many of the Korean elders had low levels of health literacy and health literacy was independently associated with health behavior. These findings show that interventions for improving health literacy are necessary to enhance health behavior of the elderly.

• 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.

• 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.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.330-341
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• 2015

Purpose: This study developed a self-report measure for easy assessing of the health literacy of Asian immigrant women in South Korea. Methods: After a literature review, focus group interviews, and content validity evaluation, 14 preliminary items were generated. These were translated into Chinese, Vietnamese, and English. Data were collected from 229 Asian immigrant women. Validity and reliability tests were conducted. Results: Factor analysis yielded final 10 items in three factors: primary functional and interactive health literacy, secondary functional and interactive health literacy, and critical health literacy, which explained 61.90% of the total variance of health literacy. In known-group comparisons, health literacy was significantly lower in recent immigrants, those with a low education level, and those with low Korean language proficiency. For convergent validity, health literacy was positively associated with health specific self-efficacy and maternal health knowledge. For criterion-related validity, health literacy was positively associated with the REALM-SF. The overall reliability coefficient (Cronbach's ${\alpha}$) of the instrument was .773. Conclusion: The Health Literacy Assessment Scale for Asian Immigrant Women (HLAS) represents a multidimensional construct which encompasses functional, interactive, and critical health literacy. This self-report HLAS can be a useful and convenient method for appraising the health literacy of Asian immigrant women.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.71-81
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the trends in domestic research related to health literacy in children and adolescents. Methods: Six journal articles and four dissertations or theses related to health literacy in children and adolescents were analyzed according to the following criteria: study aim, research design, study population and sample size, sampling method, health literacy variables, and characteristics of health literacy measurement instruments. Result: The majority of studies focused on general children and adolescents. Correlational studies were most prevalent, while no experimental study was identified at all. The variable most frequently explored in relation to health literacy was health promoting behaviors. Functional health literacy instruments, assessing numeracy and reading comprehension, were most commonly used to evaluate child and adolescent health literacy. Conclusion: Considering the emphasis on health literacy improvement in order to achieve health equity across the entire life cycle, there is a need for both quantitative and qualitative growth in domestic health literacy studies for children and adolescents. School-based interventions are essential for enhancing health literacy. Furthermore, it is also necessary to develop an instrument to measure health literacy of children and adolescents that can be utilized and monitored at the national level.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.47-57
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• 2015

Objectives: This study reviews literature on health literacy and provides communication guidelines and policy implications for addressing health literacy for the Korean population. Methods: EBSCOHost, JSTOR, ProQuest, Web of Science, and PubMed were searched using the term "health literacy." The present study also reviewed reports and publications released by governments and healthcare agencies. Results: By reviewing existing articles and reports, the present study provides following suggestions : (a) implementation of a national health literacy survey on a regular basis, (b) development of tailored health literacy interventions for different target segments, (C) development of an appropriate model to evaluate the effectiveness of health literacy programs, and (d) development of health literacy guidelines for distributing health information and educating healthcare professionals. Conclusions: Health literacy issues must be addressed through establishment of appropriate policies and guidelines as well as collaboration between government and healthcare organizations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.165-174
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of eHealth literacy on health promoting behaviors, thereby providing basic data for the development of interventions for health promoting behaviors among university students. Methods: Data were collected from 242 university students aged 19 and over in a university located in K province in South Korea. Participants responded to structured questionnaires in September 2018. eHealth literacy and health promoting behaviors were measured by eHealth Litaracy (EHL) and a translated version of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP-II), respectively. The correlation between eHealth literacy and health promoting behaviors were analyzed using Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression analysis was carried out to examine the influence of eHealth literacy on health promoting behaviors. Results: The participants had a moderate level of eHealth literacy with the greatest score recorded in the sub-domain of functional eHealth literacy and the lowest in the sub-domain of critical eHealth literacy. Female students and students who majored in healthcare had higher levels of eHealth literacy than male students and those with non-healthcare majors. The degree of health promoting behaviors was moderate or lower with the highest score being in the sub-domain of interpersonal support and the lowest in the sub-domain of health responsibility. Health promoting behaviors had significant relationships with eHealth literacy, exercise hours, subjective health status, and health concerns. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the participants engaged more in health promoting behaviors when they had greater eHealth literacy (β=.18, p<.001), interest in their own health (β=.33, p<.001), exercise hours (β=.18~.23, p<.001), and subjective health status (β=.17~.18, p=.007~.031). Conclusion: In order to facilitate health promoting behaviors of university students, interventions for health promoting behaviors need to be developed including strategies to improve competencies relevant to critical eHealth literacy and to increase exercise hours.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.52-62
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• 2021

Background: This study aims to provide basic data for development of the level-based oral health care program depending on the mother's oral health literacy by finding out how mother's oral health literacy can effect on the preschool children's oral health and behavior. Methods: The survey was conducted on 192 mothers who have preschool children and the data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, multiple regression analysis to identify differences in verbal and functional oral health literacy. Results: The study showed statistical significance (p<0.05) in educational level depending on differences in verbal and functional oral health literacy by sociodemographic factor. In differences in verbal and functional literacy depending on experience of education for oral health behavior and oral health, statistical significance (p<0.05) was showed highly on verbal and functional literacy in the case that subjects have an experience of education for oral health and their children have not been experienced of oral illness. And when it comes to the case that subjects have experience of education for oral health within one to two years, statistical significance was showed highly on verbal literacy. It showed that verbal and functional oral health literacy effects to oral health care behavior of children judging from results that the higher level of mother's verbal oral health literacy, the higher score of children's oral health knowledge, attitude and behavior. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop the systematic program which is appropriate for characteristics of each oral period in childhood depending on level of primary caregiver's oral health literacy, and systematic education should be preceded to enhance the literacy of the caregiver. It is considered necessary to improve the oral health care of children by developing a manual for oral health care education to enhance primary caregiver's oral health literacy.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2022

Background: This study compares and analyzes the degree of oral health information literacy by 25% for upper and lower grades to assess how differences in mothers' oral health information literacy affect infants' oral health behavior. Methods: The study surveyed 201 mothers with infants and children using a 36 question survey tool. Cross-analysis was conducted to determine the difference in oral health information literacy between the upper and the lower 25%. Results: Comparing 25% of the upper and lower grades of verbal oral health information literacy scores, the word with the most significant difference in the correct answer was resin. An item asking about the time to eat after fluoride varnish application showed the most significant difference in the correct answer on the functional oral health information literacy scale. Mothers' oral and functional oral health information literacy scores showed that verbal literacy was statistically significant for brushing guidance after children's meals, brushing guidance before children's bedtime, food intake restrictions before bedtime, and restrictions on consumption of cavity-inducing foods (p<0.05). Functional literacy was statistically significant in the post-brushing test of children and the correct brushing method map items (p<0.05). Conclusion: As a result of comparing and analyzing the upper and lower 25% of the mother's oral health information literacy, it was found that the mother's oral health information literacy affected the infant's oral health behavior. Therefore, systematic education is needed to raise literacy by grasping the level of oral health information literacy of mothers, and oral health education by level according to oral health information literacy should be developed.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.252-262
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• 2021

Purpose: To define the concept of digital health literacy and identify its attributes. Methods: Walker and Avant's approach was employed for concept analysis. Attributes, antecedents, consequences, and the definition of digital health literacy were derived from a review of 28 studies. Results: Digital health literacy was identified to possess the following five attributes: health information seeking, health information processing, health information communication, health-related knowledge translation, and utilizing digital technology. Basic literacy skills, health concerns, motivation to use technology for health information, and access to digital technologies were all antecedents of the concept. The consequences of the concept were health behaviors, patient engagement, health status, and quality of life. Digital health literacy is the ability to seek relevant health information utilizing digital technology to solve health problems and improve quality of life. Furthermore, it refers to the translation of health-related knowledge obtained through health information processing-finding, understanding, and evaluating health information and health information communication-into the context in which individual and social factors interact. Conclusion: This study presented a new definition of digital health literacy that goes beyond existing internet-based eHealth literacy, by incorporating the context of emerging digital technologies. This proposed definition can serve as a foundation for the development of instruments and educational programs to improve individuals' digital health literacy.