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Complementary Medicine Health Literacy among a Population of Older Australians Living in Retirement Villages: A Mixed Methods Study
Joint Authors
Chang, Esther
Brownhill, Suzanne
Barr, Kylie
Smith, Caroline A.
Source
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Issue
Vol. 2016, Issue 2016 (31 Dec. 2016), pp.1-9, 9 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2016-06-26
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
9
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Background.
Older Australians are consumers of high levels of complementary medicines.
The aim of this study was to examine health literacy in a population of older Australians related to their use of complementary medicine.
Methods.
A two-phase sequential mixed method design incorporating quantitative and qualitative methods was used in this study.
The first phase consisted of a cross-sectional survey using a validated health literacy questionnaire and follow-up interviews with 11 residents of retirement villages.
Interviews explored low scoring domains on the health literacy questionnaire.
Results.
Health literacy competencies scored higher for the domains of having sufficient information to manage their health; felt understood and supported by health care providers; actively managed their health; and having social support for health.
Three health literacy domains scored low including appraisal of health information; ability to find good information; and navigating the health care system.
The findings suggest that participants had different experiences navigating the health care system to access information and services relating to complementary medicines.
Two themes of “trust” and “try and see” provide insight into how this group of older Australians appraised health information in relation to complementary medicines.
Conclusions.
With a focus on self-care there is a need for improved health literacy skills.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Smith, Caroline A.& Chang, Esther& Brownhill, Suzanne& Barr, Kylie. 2016. Complementary Medicine Health Literacy among a Population of Older Australians Living in Retirement Villages: A Mixed Methods Study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine،Vol. 2016, no. 2016, pp.1-9.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1104221
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Smith, Caroline A.…[et al.]. Complementary Medicine Health Literacy among a Population of Older Australians Living in Retirement Villages: A Mixed Methods Study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine No. 2016 (2016), pp.1-9.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1104221
American Medical Association (AMA)
Smith, Caroline A.& Chang, Esther& Brownhill, Suzanne& Barr, Kylie. Complementary Medicine Health Literacy among a Population of Older Australians Living in Retirement Villages: A Mixed Methods Study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2016. Vol. 2016, no. 2016, pp.1-9.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1104221
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1104221