Factors associated with the extend of medication health literacy in Taiwan: is higher education sufficient enough?

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to explore how the total score of Chinese Medication Health Literacy Measure (ChMLM) vary in relation to characteristics, including the education levels, of the general public in Taiwan. Methods: The responses obtained from the participants in 2016 national survey of Chinese Medication Health Literacy Measure (ChMLM) in Taiwan, e.g., on demographic, living region, occupation, religious beliefs, health-related quality of life, self-reported Health Literacy, common medication knowledge, and ChMLM (total score=17) were utilized. Linear and logistic regression modeling were performed to explore the factors associated with respondents' ChMLM scores, either continuous variable or dichotomous variables (greater than 13 ChMLM=high medication health literacy, MHL), respectively. Results: Of 1414 adults completed the survey, the following factors were statistically significant associated with incremental ChMLM scores upon linear regression analysis: education levels (≧undergraduate), language spoken daily (Mandarin), living region (north Taiwan), and perfect EQVD_5L_utility (utility=1).In contrast, , age (≧50 years old) and medication use (currently taking medications) were statistically significant associated with decrements of ChMLM scores. Similar findings could be found in the logistic regression analysis (i.e., high or low MHL), whereas two more variables were statistically significant associated with high MHL. Participants with higher education and ever made medical visits in the past three months were more likely to have high MHL. Conclusions: Other than having higher education, higher levels of perfect health, seniors, citizens in the northern areas, recent hospital visitors, and current medication takers are all significant contributing factors to higher ChMLM scores. Such findings can help guide the resource arrangement and identify the needs to enhance nation's medication health literacy in Taiwan.