Does the Level of Functional Health Literacy among the Elderly Impact Their Ability to Comprehend and Adhere to Self-Care Instructions?
نویسندگان
1 Postgraduate Program in Teaching in Science and Health, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Tocantins, Brasil.
2 Postgraduate Program in Teaching in Science and Health, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Tocantins, Brasil.
3 Postgraduate Program in Teaching in Science and Health, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Tocantins, Brasil.
4 Postgraduate Program in Physical Therapy, Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brasil
5 Postgraduate Program in Teaching in Science and Health, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Tocantins, Brasil.
6 Postgraduate Program in Teaching in Science and Health, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Tocantins, Brasil.
7 Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Tocantins, Brasil.
8 Postgraduate Program in Teaching in Science and Health, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Tocantins, Brasil.
9 Postgraduate Program in Teaching in Science and Health, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Tocantins, Brasil.
doi
10.22038/jhl.2025.82996.1641چکیده
Background and Objectives: Aging is a natural process that involves morphological, psychological, functional, and social changes. The gradual decrease in functional capacity during aging can lead to functional dependence and chronic diseases. Functional health literacy is a health education technique that promotes the individual's ability to access, read, understand, interpret, evaluate, and apply health-related information. Functional health literacy enables elderly individuals to be more active and informed about their own health, promoting self-care. to summarise research on the level of functional health literacy among the elderly and their ability to comprehend and follow self-care instructions. Materials and Methods: A narrative review. The databases used to conduct the scoping review were PubMed and Scopus, using the combination of the Boolean operator "AND" and descriptors: Functional health literacy; Self-care in older adults; Functional health literacy in older adults.Results: Research indicates that adequate adherence to disease treatment is fundamental to the effectiveness of healthcare. When older adults struggle to comprehend self-care instructions, they may face challenges in correctly adhering to medication regimens, attending follow-up appointments, or adopting healthy lifestyle practices. A low level of functional health literacy can hinder the comprehension and utilization of health-related information, such as scheduling appointments, interpreting medical exams and forms, and preventing diseases.Conclusion: the ability of older adults to comprehend and follow self-care instructions is directly impacted by their functional health literacy level, which in turn affects their overall quality of life.
