Health Literacy of the Elderly During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

This study assessed health literacy (HL) and its associated factors among the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic, in which HL affected disaster risk management. This cross-sectional study included elderly individuals from Dusit District, Bangkok, Thailand. A total sample of 500 was obtained through simple random sampling conducted between March and October 2022. Spearman’s rank correlation and the eta coefficient were used to analyze the relationships. As for the results, the total HL of the elderly was fair (x̄ = 54.01, S.D. = 14.05). Considering each aspect, it was found that 1) access to information and health services was poor (x̄ = 11.91, S.D. = 2.97), 2) comprehension of health information was fair (x̄ = 14.01, S.D. = 3.65), 3) assessment of health information and services was fair (x̄ = 13.60, S.D. = 3.83), and 4) application of information and health services was fair (x̄ = 14.49, S.D. = 3.60). Age, education, and comorbidity were factors related to the HL of the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic in Dusit District (p < 0.001). The results elucidate the HL of the population of this community during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing an indicator of the community’s potential for disaster risk management, including the preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery phases.