Correlation Between Health Literacy and Quality of Life Among the Elderly: The Community Versa Nursing home

Enhancing health literacy may improve health-related quality of life. Given the more educational programs in nursing homes, this study aimed to determine the relationship between health literacy and the quality of life among the elderly living in nursing homes and those living with their families in Ahvaz, Iran.

This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017. The research population was the elderly in Ahvaz city, Iran. This population consisted of two groups, those living in nursing homes and those who do not. There were 62 samples. Random cluster sampling was used to select the participants. The data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire as well as Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA) and LEIPAD questionnaires. The data were analyzed by independent t-test, Mann-Whitney test, Spearman correlation, and Chi-square test using SPSS 19.

The mean health literacy of the elderly living in nursing homes estimated to be relatively desirable (3.60 ± 0.77) and the mean health literacy of the elderly not living in nursing homes was estimated to be relatively undesirable (2.30 ± 0.83). The quality of life was estimated to be moderate for both groups, the mean score for nursing homes was 2.65 ± 0.37 and for the community was 2.98 ± 0.52. Simple regression indicated that appraisal and decision, among the subscales of health literacy, are predicting factors for quality of life in the elderly.

Using self-help groups and the participation of the elderly in decision making as well as designing educational programs for identifying the accuracy of health information of the media and encouraging them to share health knowledge with others can ultimately improve quality of life in the elderly.