Evidence-based health literacy improvements: trends on health literacy studies in Korea

Abstract

<Abstract> Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current state of health literacy research and to explore the directions of improvement health literacy in Korea. Methods: A review of literature was conducted via an electronic database and citation tracking reference. A total of 173 articles were identified, where and then 41 articles were selected for review that met the inclusion criteria. Two authors independently reviewed the articles using the matrix table and together examined together the three aspects of the studies: research methods, health literacy instrument, and results. Results: Most of the articles were descriptive-correlation studies, but there were one intervention study and six methodology studies that were developing health literacy measures and instrument related items and etc. More troubling sufficient samples and sampling methods were lacking at the population level. The validity of the used health literacy instruments was not sufficient reported. Conclusions: Health literacy instruments need to be validated in various population and contexts. Additionally, effective strategies to improve health literacy included teach-back, pictogram, and decision aids need to be tested in Korean health care system.

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