An integrative literature review: Health literacy and learning ability among older adults with chronic illness

Abstract

Background: Chronic illness is life adversity that suffered older people. Health literacy plays an essential role to improve their quality of life, also relates to how the elder learned from their entire lives. To promote suitable health care, an understanding of health literacy in older people is needed to be described and expanded. This study aims to understand an existing knowledge about health literacy and learning ability among older people who experience chronic illness. It will consequentially guide to improve the older wellbeing and deliver better care services. Design: An integrative review of literature. Methods: This review was limited to original articles in English and Thai. Bowling and Pearson's quality appraisal were critically reviewed to integrate the results of the literature. Results: This study delivered the three associated issues about health literacy and their learning ability to promote and improve health among older people with chronic illness. There were; 1) health literacy and older people, 2) related factors of learning in older adults and older adults with chronic illness, and 3) health literacy among older people with chronic illness. Conclusion: Existing knowledge of health literacy and learning ability among older adults with chronic illness was dismissed. Low level of health literacy significantly has a diverse impact on their holistic health. Social and cultural issues were found as both positive and negative related to their learning. An appropriated approach to understanding the uniqueness of each older person is required for future learning health literacy. Copyright © 2019, Taiwan Society of Geriatric Emergency & Critical CareMedicine.