Aging Well with Health Information: Examining Health Literacy and Information Seeking Behavior Using a National Survey Dataset

Abstract

Health literacy is critical in disease prevention particularly in the older population. This secondary data analysis of a national survey is to determine the levels of health literacy, and to investigate how it links to health information seeking behavior, disease prevention behavior, and personal characteristics in adults aged 50 and above in Taiwan. Data were obtained from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging (TLSA) conducted in 2015 (N = 8,300). Cluster analysis and comparison analyses were used in this study. Health literacy was measured using self-rated questions about the barriers to communicate or learn health-related information in clinical and daily living scenarios. Health information seeking behavior was measured based on the engagement and frequency in using health information sources. Self-perceived health was measured based on self-rated health conditions. Disease prevention behavior was measured using self-reported activities regarding disease prevention. Two clusters of health literacy were identified: high (69.58%) and low (30.42%). The participants in the high health literacy cluster tended to have higher levels of education, younger age, and be male. In addition, high health literacy is associated with more frequent health information seeking behavior, better self-perceived health, and participation in more activities to prevent chronic diseases. Health professionals in geriatrics and librarians should pay more attention to those at risk with lower health literacy and facilitate the accessibility of health information sources. Social and regional characteristics of older adults’ health literacy can be further explored for a better design of interventions to help people age well in the future.