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Health Literacy and Its Link to Healthcare Service Utilization Among Older Adults in Korea

  • Young Sun Kim
  • , Parmananda Khatiwoda
  • , Byung Hyun Park
  • , Hee Yun Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Existing studies report a negative association between health literacy and hospital/emergency room use. Despite substantial research on this topic among older Americans, little is known about the link between health literacy and healthcare services use among older Koreans. This study investigates this link, using a sample of 596 adults, 65 and older, from Korea's three largest cities. Andersen's behavior model guided the study. Findings revealed that participants with higher health literacy were significantly less likely to use emergent health services. Enhanced health literacy will likely promote better health outcomes for older Koreans and reduce Korea's healthcare costs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)467-473
Number of pages7
JournalSocial Work in Public Health
Volume31
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 Sept 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

  • Health literacy
  • Korean older adults
  • health services utilization
  • healthcare cost
  • quality healthcare

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