Health literacy and COVID-19 in the elderly: approach from the Community Pharmacy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60103/phc.v24i6.786Keywords:
Health literacy; community pharmacy; COVID-19Abstract
Introduction: Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. The need for such capacity has been notable during pandemic.
Method: A specific questionnaire was made to patients older than 60 years. The questionnaire included the HLS-EU-Q16 instrument adapted to COVID-19, some questions about the role of pharmacists and the SAHLSA tool.
Results: Most of the patients were women (75.4%) and the age was 79.2±9.4 years. The level of education of the majority was primary education (34.4%). Primary education and no schooling were the most common levels in older than 80 years. As HLS-EU-Q16 questionnaire showed, health literacy about COVID-19 was deficient (23%), insufficient (70,5%) and sufficient (6,6%). SAHLSA tool pointed out sufficient health literacy in 80%. The results of the first questionnaire were not related to the level of education. However, all participants with intermediate or advanced education had sufficient marks in the SAHLSA tool. Finally, the responders considered physicians as the main health professional who can help them to obtain reliable information (77%), followed by pharmacists (13%). 75% of responders agreed that pharmacists helped them understand the measures against COVID-19.
Conclusions: Patients have difficulties to identify reliable information and to find information about COVID treatments. This need is not related to the educational level or to the health literacy in other fields. Pharmacists may be a key agent to solve that need.
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