Does health literacy affect the uptake of annual physical check-ups?: Results from the 2017 US health information national trends survey

Archives of Public Health

Sooyoung Kim¹  Mi Hwa Lee²  Hee Yun Lee³  Jessica Neese³ 

[1] Dept. of Aging and Social Work, College of Nursing, Catholic University of Pusan, Busan, South Korea;School of Social Work, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA;School of Social Work, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA;

关键词: Health literacy;    Physical check‐ups;    Older adults;    Young adults;    Andersen behavioral model;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13690-021-00556-w

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundLittle is known about how health literacy is linked to physical check-ups. This study aimed to examine the levels of physical check-ups (self-reported check-ups within the last year) by age group (those aged 18–59 years and those aged = ≥ 60 years) and the role of health literacy regarding physical check-ups in the United States.MethodsData for the study were obtained from the 2017 Health Information National Trends Survey. The original sample included 3,285 respondents, but only 3,146 surveys were used for this study. Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use guided this study, and a binomial logistic regression model was conducted using Stata 12.0 software package.ResultsWhile 82.0 % of the older group had an annual check-up, 67.3 % of the younger group had one. Both groups had similar ratios for health literacy-related item reporting. Study results show that annual check-up was positively associated with confidence in getting health information, having health insurance, and having a primary doctor for both age groups. However, getting a regular check-up was negatively associated with frustration while searching for information among the younger group. In comparison, it was positively associated with difficulty understanding information for the older group.ConclusionsTo increase annual physical check-ups, health literacy-related interventions should be developed and address the barriers most associated with health check-ups. One way of addressing this barrier is to improve communication from healthcare professionals to consumers through the use of easy-to-understand explanations appropriate for the consumer.

【 授权许可】

CC BY