Effects of health literacy to self‐efficacy and preventive care utilization among older adults |
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Authors: | Ji‐Zhen Chen Hui‐Chuan Hsu Ho‐Jui Tung Ling‐Yen Pan |
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Affiliation: | 1. Clinical Trials Center, China Medical University Hospital;2. Department of Health Care Administration, Asia University;3. Planning Unit, Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health, Taichung, Taiwan |
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Abstract: | Aim: This study examined the relationships between health literacy, self‐efficacy and preventive care utilization among older adults in Taiwan. Methods: The data were from a longitudinal survey, “Taiwan Longitudinal Study in Aging” in 2003 and 2007. A total of 3479 participants who completed both two waves were included for analysis. Health literacy first was constructed through education, cognitive function and disease knowledge through structural equation modeling (SEM); then, the associations of health literacy to later self‐efficacy and preventive care were examined. Results: The model fit of SEM was good, indicating that the construct of health literacy was appropriate. Healthy literacy showed a moderate positive effect on self‐efficacy and a small positive effect on preventive care utilization. Conclusions: Health literacy increases self‐efficacy and utilization of preventive care. Promoting people's health knowledge and health literacy is suggested. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 70–76 . |
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Keywords: | health literacy older adults preventive care self‐efficacy structural equation modeling |
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