Functional health literacy in older adults with hypertension in the Family Health Strategy

Rev Bras Enferm. 2020:73 Suppl 3:e20190848. doi: 10.1590/0034-7167-2019-0848. Epub 2020 Aug 7.
[Article in Portuguese, English]

Abstract

Objective: To assess Functional Health Literacy and the associated sociodemographic, health, information sources and health media factors in older adults with hypertension assisted at the Family Health Strategy.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study with an exploratory-descriptive approach, carried out with a total of 264 older adults. A sociodemographic and health characterization instrument was used for the data collection, and another one that evaluated the Functional Health Literacy. For the analysis, a descriptive and inferential statistics were performed.

Results: Most of the participants in the study had inadequate literacy (59.5% - 157), and the variables education, income, hospital stay and internet as a source of information are related to the averages of Functional Health Literacy.

Conclusion: Knowing the Functional Health Literacy of older adults with hypertension and its associated factors can provide subsidies for the planning of health education strategies that, in fact, meet their health needs.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Data Collection
  • Family Health
  • Health Literacy*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension*