Functional Health Literacy for Maintaining Active Aging and Self-Care: A Quasi-Experimental Study

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Functional Health Literacy for Maintaining Active Aging and Self-Care: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Language: English
Authors: Krycia Renata da Rocha Conceição (ORCID 0009-0007-9541-4669), André Pontes-Silva (ORCID 0000-0002-3983-5342), Paulo Henrique Torres De Araújo (ORCID 0000-0001-9866-1672), Lucas da Silva Sousa (ORCID 0000-0002-7129-0987), Luiz Sinesio Silva-Neto (ORCID 0000-0002-3182-7727), Fernando Rodrigues Peixoto Quaresma (ORCID 0000-0001-8407-0310), Erika da Silva Maciel (ORCID 0000-0002-9836-7665)
Source: Health Education. 2026 126(1):33-44.
Availability: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Multiple Literacies, Quality of Life, Older Adults, Intervention, Foreign Countries, Health Behavior, Well Being, Workshops, Program Effectiveness, Physical Health, Mental Health
Geographic Terms: Brazil
DOI: 10.1108/HE-01-2025-0011
ISSN: 0965-4283
1758-714X
Abstract: Purpose: To develop and apply functional health literacy strategies to promote self-care and improve the perception of quality of life in a group of active older people. Design/methodology/approach: A quasi-experimental study. Findings: About 41 elderly subjects participated in the study. The results of the group characterization show that most of them were women, married, illiterate or with incomplete primary education, users of the national health system and from more vulnerable economic strata. In terms of perceived quality of life, higher scores were observed in the psychological and social relationship domains. The lowest scores were observed in the physical and environmental domains. According to the WHOQOL-Old test applied at the beginning of the research and after the intervention, we observed statistically significant changes in all domains. The research showed that the interventions helped the functional health literacy of some participants and improved the self-care capacity observed at baseline. Based on the use of the ASA-A instrument, the self-care capacity of the participants, which was already excellent, improved even more. When comparing the functional health literacy scores before and after the intervention, no statistical differences were observed. Originality/value: A quasi-experimental study with Brazilians aged 60-90 years. We used culturally adapted and validated instrument in Brazil to assess the level of functional literacy (B-TOFHLA), quality of life (WHOQOL-Bref and WHOQOL-OLD) and self-care abilities (ASA-A).
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1501655
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Purpose: To develop and apply functional health literacy strategies to promote self-care and improve the perception of quality of life in a group of active older people. Design/methodology/approach: A quasi-experimental study. Findings: About 41 elderly subjects participated in the study. The results of the group characterization show that most of them were women, married, illiterate or with incomplete primary education, users of the national health system and from more vulnerable economic strata. In terms of perceived quality of life, higher scores were observed in the psychological and social relationship domains. The lowest scores were observed in the physical and environmental domains. According to the WHOQOL-Old test applied at the beginning of the research and after the intervention, we observed statistically significant changes in all domains. The research showed that the interventions helped the functional health literacy of some participants and improved the self-care capacity observed at baseline. Based on the use of the ASA-A instrument, the self-care capacity of the participants, which was already excellent, improved even more. When comparing the functional health literacy scores before and after the intervention, no statistical differences were observed. Originality/value: A quasi-experimental study with Brazilians aged 60-90 years. We used culturally adapted and validated instrument in Brazil to assess the level of functional literacy (B-TOFHLA), quality of life (WHOQOL-Bref and WHOQOL-OLD) and self-care abilities (ASA-A).
ISSN:0965-4283
1758-714X
DOI:10.1108/HE-01-2025-0011