Measuring COVID-19 health literacy and associated factors among caregivers in institutions for people with intellectual disabilities

Abstract

Objective As Taiwan has become a super-aged society, care institutions for people with disabilities, where most residents are from vulnerable groups, must implement measures against emerging infectious diseases. This study analyzed COVID-19 health literacy and associated factors of caregivers in institutions for people with intellectual disabilities. Methods Purposive sampling was employed to select 382 institutional caregivers from eight care institutions for people with intellectual disabilities. A structured questionnaire, the COVID-19 Health Literacy Assessment Scale, was used as the measurement instrument. The scale is a self-designed questionnaire comprising 21 items on health literacy and COVID-19 prevention policies. The questionnaire responses were documented using Microsoft Excel and analyzed using SPSS 23.0 through descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Results The participants had a mean COVID-19 health literacy score of 88.8 ± 8.9 (range: 63–105). There was a significant correlation between the three dimensions of COVID-19 health literacy, namely ‘ability to obtain COVID-19-related information,’ ‘ability to understand COVID-19-related information,’ and ‘ability to distinguish and apply COVID-19-related information.’ Multiple logistic regression analysis of the relationships between the demographic variables and COVID-19 health literacy revealed ‘monthly service hours’ as a significantly correlated factor. Participants who worked less than 160 h per month had higher COVID-19 health literacy than those who worked 160 h or more monthly (OR = 1.922; 95% CI = 1.183–3.122). Conclusions This study recommends that institutions for people with intellectual disabilities establish comprehensive pandemic prevention policies according to the level of health literacy among staff members to effectively improve their COVID-19 health literacy and response strategies, reduce health risks of caregivers and patients, and ensure health and well-being in the institutional community.