Association between multiple chronic conditions and insufficient health literacy: cross-sectional evidence from a population-based sample of older adults living in Switzerland
Abstract Background Health literacy is the ability to find, understand, assess, and apply health information. Individuals suffering from multiple chronic conditions have complex healthcare needs that may challenge their health literacy skills. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15136-6 |
| _version_ | 1811165662511366144 |
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| author | Maud Wieczorek Clément Meier Sarah Vilpert Robert Reinecke Carmen Borrat-Besson Jürgen Maurer Matthias Kliegel |
| author_facet | Maud Wieczorek Clément Meier Sarah Vilpert Robert Reinecke Carmen Borrat-Besson Jürgen Maurer Matthias Kliegel |
| author_sort | Maud Wieczorek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Health literacy is the ability to find, understand, assess, and apply health information. Individuals suffering from multiple chronic conditions have complex healthcare needs that may challenge their health literacy skills. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between multimorbidity, the number of chronic conditions, and health literacy levels in a sample of adults aged 58+ in Switzerland. Methods We used data from 1,615 respondents to a paper-and-pencil questionnaire administered as part of wave 8 (2019/2020) of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) in Switzerland. Health literacy was measured using the short version of the European Health Literacy Survey questionnaire. The final score ranged from 0 to 16 and was categorised into three health literacy levels: inadequate (0–8), problematic (9–12), and sufficient (13–16). The number of chronic conditions was self-reported based on a pre-defined list. Associations were examined using multivariable ordinary least squares and ordered probit regression models, controlling for key socio-demographic characteristics. Results Overall, 63.5% of respondents reported having at least one chronic condition. Respondents who reported one, two, and three or more chronic conditions were more likely to have lower health literacy scores compared to respondents who did not report any chronic condition (p<0.05, p<0.01, and p<0.001, respectively). Suffering from two and three or more chronic conditions (vs. no chronic condition) was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of having inadequate or problematic health literacy levels (both p-values <0.01). Conclusions Our findings suggest a need to improve health literacy in older adults suffering from chronic conditions. Improved health literacy could constitute a promising lever to empower individuals to better self-manage their health to ultimately reduce the double burden of chronic diseases and insufficient health literacy in this vulnerable population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:41:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d6df90a2fb30487ba48ce46a928490c9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:41:26Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d6df90a2fb30487ba48ce46a928490c92023-02-12T12:25:08ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-02-0123111110.1186/s12889-023-15136-6Association between multiple chronic conditions and insufficient health literacy: cross-sectional evidence from a population-based sample of older adults living in SwitzerlandMaud Wieczorek0Clément Meier1Sarah Vilpert2Robert Reinecke3Carmen Borrat-Besson4Jürgen Maurer5Matthias Kliegel6Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES - Overcoming vulnerability: Life course perspectives, University of LausanneFaculty of Biology and Medicine (FBM), University of LausanneFaculty of Business and Economics (HEC), University of LausanneSwiss Centre of Expertise in the Social Sciences (FORS), University of LausanneSwiss Centre of Expertise in the Social Sciences (FORS), University of LausanneSwiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES - Overcoming vulnerability: Life course perspectives, University of LausanneSwiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES - Overcoming vulnerability: Life course perspectives, University of LausanneAbstract Background Health literacy is the ability to find, understand, assess, and apply health information. Individuals suffering from multiple chronic conditions have complex healthcare needs that may challenge their health literacy skills. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between multimorbidity, the number of chronic conditions, and health literacy levels in a sample of adults aged 58+ in Switzerland. Methods We used data from 1,615 respondents to a paper-and-pencil questionnaire administered as part of wave 8 (2019/2020) of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) in Switzerland. Health literacy was measured using the short version of the European Health Literacy Survey questionnaire. The final score ranged from 0 to 16 and was categorised into three health literacy levels: inadequate (0–8), problematic (9–12), and sufficient (13–16). The number of chronic conditions was self-reported based on a pre-defined list. Associations were examined using multivariable ordinary least squares and ordered probit regression models, controlling for key socio-demographic characteristics. Results Overall, 63.5% of respondents reported having at least one chronic condition. Respondents who reported one, two, and three or more chronic conditions were more likely to have lower health literacy scores compared to respondents who did not report any chronic condition (p<0.05, p<0.01, and p<0.001, respectively). Suffering from two and three or more chronic conditions (vs. no chronic condition) was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of having inadequate or problematic health literacy levels (both p-values <0.01). Conclusions Our findings suggest a need to improve health literacy in older adults suffering from chronic conditions. Improved health literacy could constitute a promising lever to empower individuals to better self-manage their health to ultimately reduce the double burden of chronic diseases and insufficient health literacy in this vulnerable population.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15136-6Health literacyChronic conditionsMultimorbidityOlder adults |
| spellingShingle | Maud Wieczorek Clément Meier Sarah Vilpert Robert Reinecke Carmen Borrat-Besson Jürgen Maurer Matthias Kliegel Association between multiple chronic conditions and insufficient health literacy: cross-sectional evidence from a population-based sample of older adults living in Switzerland BMC Public Health Health literacy Chronic conditions Multimorbidity Older adults |
| title | Association between multiple chronic conditions and insufficient health literacy: cross-sectional evidence from a population-based sample of older adults living in Switzerland |
| title_full | Association between multiple chronic conditions and insufficient health literacy: cross-sectional evidence from a population-based sample of older adults living in Switzerland |
| title_fullStr | Association between multiple chronic conditions and insufficient health literacy: cross-sectional evidence from a population-based sample of older adults living in Switzerland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association between multiple chronic conditions and insufficient health literacy: cross-sectional evidence from a population-based sample of older adults living in Switzerland |
| title_short | Association between multiple chronic conditions and insufficient health literacy: cross-sectional evidence from a population-based sample of older adults living in Switzerland |
| title_sort | association between multiple chronic conditions and insufficient health literacy cross sectional evidence from a population based sample of older adults living in switzerland |
| topic | Health literacy Chronic conditions Multimorbidity Older adults |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15136-6 |
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