Open AccessCommunity-based Skill Building Intervention to Enhance Health Literacy Among Older Rural Adults
Author(s) -
Jean Shreffler-Grant,
Elizabeth Nichols,
Clarann Weinert
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
western journal of nursing research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.552
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1552-8456
pISSN - 0193-9459
DOI - 10.1177/0193945920958014
Subject(s) - health literacy , intervention (counseling) , medicine , descriptive statistics , literacy , gerontology , session (web analytics) , health care , rural area , family medicine , nursing , psychology , pedagogy , pathology , statistics , mathematics , world wide web , computer science , economics , economic growth
The purpose of this article is to report the outcomes of a skill building intervention to improve general health literacy and health literacy about complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) among older rural adults. The intervention was implemented in eight rural communities. Descriptive statistics and general linear modeling were used for analysis. A total of 127 older adults completed the initial session and Time 1 questionnaire, 67 (51%) completed the intervention sessions and Time 2 questionnaire, and 52 (40.9%) completed the Time 3 questionnaire five months later. CAM health literacy scores and scores on one general health literacy measure were significantly higher at Time 2 compared to Time 1 and 3. The decline in scores over time suggests a need for continuing strategies to support older adults' health literacy. Assisting older adults to make safe health care choices is a critical role for investigators, nurses, and other health care providers.