Do Health Information Sources Influence Health Literacy among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Urban Areas of Western China

Chengbo Li (), Mengyao Liu, Jin Zhou, Mei Zhang, Huanchang Liu, Yuting Wu, Hui Li, George W. Leeson and Tingting Deng
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Chengbo Li: School of Journalism and Communication, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Mengyao Liu: School of Journalism and Communication, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Jin Zhou: School of Journalism and Communication, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Mei Zhang: School of Journalism and Communication, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Huanchang Liu: School of Journalism and Communication, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Yuting Wu: School of Journalism and Communication, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Hui Li: School of Journalism and Communication, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
George W. Leeson: Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6PR, UK
Tingting Deng: School of Journalism and Communication, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 20, 1-19

Abstract: Background: Previous studies have found that the dissemination pattern and delivery mechanism of information can provide crucial resources and empowerment for individuals to the promotion of health literacy. The present study investigates how health information sources are associated with health literacy among older adults in west China, and tries to explain the mechanisms underlying the link between health information sources and health literacy in the Chinese context. Methods: The cross-sectional study employed a representative sample of 812 urban citizens aged 60 and older in 2017 in Western China. Results: We found that health information sources including healthcare practitioners (B = 4.577, p < 0.001), neighbors (B = 2.545, p < 0.05), newspapers (B = 4.280, p < 0.001), and television (B = 4.638, p < 0.001) were positively associated with health literacy. Additionally, age (B = −1.781, p < 0.001) was negatively associated with health literacy, and the socio-economic status factors including minority (B = −10.005, p < 0.001), financial strain status of perceived very difficult (B = −10.537, p < 0.001), primary school (B = 11.461, p < 0.001), junior high school (B = 18.016, p < 0.001), polytechnic school or senior high school (B = 21.905, p < 0.001), college and above (B = 23.433, p < 0.001) were significantly linked to health literacy, and suffering from chronic diseases (B = 3.430, p < 0.01) was also positively related to health literacy. Conclusions: Health information sources including healthcare practitioners, neighbors, newspapers, and television have a strong influence on health literacy, which implies that the four main types of sources are the important patterns of health information dissemination in the reinforcement of health literacy. In addition, the present findings also indicate age, minority and disease differences in health literacy and confirm the influence of enabling factors including educational attainment and financial strain on health literacy. Based on these findings and their implications, specific evidence is presented for the reinforcement of health literacy in interpersonal and mass communication, and in the educational and financial settings in the Chinese context. The present results also suggest that the age-specific, minority-specific and disease-specific measures should be taken to promote health literacy among older adults.

Keywords: health literacy; sources of health information; interpersonal communication; mass communication; older Chinese adults (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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