Measurement and Survey of Health Literacy among Elderly with Chronic Conditions.

Background: Health literacy includes individual cognitive and social skills which determinate motives and abilities to knowledge gain, precept and practice to promote health status. While health literacy improves, individual will have better health conditions, and thus decreases overall healthcare expenditure. In the era of high prevalence of chronic diseases as well as increasing healthcare utilization, to identify effectiveness of chronic disease treatment and health expenditure among elderly, which will help healthcare resource allocate and environment development. Objectives: The purposes of this study: 1. to develop health literacy evaluation tools in Taiwan 2. to utilize this tool to evaluate health literacy among elders with chronic diseases, and identify factors associated with health literacy. Methods: First year: use literature review to realize the development of health literacy evaluation tools, and gather experts of public health, nursing, education, psychology and language research fields to improve questionnaire validity and reliability. Second year: to select cases via convenience sampling and evaluate cases with hypertension, high blood sugar, and hyperlipidemia for their health literacy in three hospitals in Taipei. Anticipated Research Results: To develop health literacy tools suitable for elderly with chronic diseases in Taiwan; identify factors associated with health literacy and provide references for health policy intervention.