The Level of Health Literacy in Medication and Health Products Usage and Factors Effecting among the Older Adults Who Attended the Senior Schools in the Northeastern of Thailand

Background and Objective: The selecting and misusing medications and health products may affect the health of the patients.  The aim of this study is to determine the level of literacy and factors affecting health literacy in medication and health products usage in the older adults who attended the senior schools in Northeastern of Thailand.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study with face-to-face interviews and self-report questionnaire study were conducted in March - July 2021. The 1,599 older adults were selected by the stratified random sampling method from the 13 older adult schools. Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression were used to test the association between variables.Results: The analysis showed that most participants have a low level of health literacy in medication and health products usage. The mean score for all six components of the V-shape model by the Department of Health of Thailand was 145.20 ± 37.13 out of 300 points which was less than 50% of total points. The lowest was average of 22.31± 7.03 out of 50 points. The three levels of health literacy were at the low (≤50 points). Factors affecting to low health literacy in medications and health products usage, were single status (OR=2.27, 95% CI: 1.18, 4.40), lack of family support (OR=1.54, 95% CI: 1.24, 1.91), and having a smartphone (OR=1.58, 95% CI: 1.21, 2.06) with the ability to browse the internet (OR=1.72, 95% CI: 1.28, 2.31).Conclusion: Public and community stakeholders need to encouraging the older adults to have a better level of health literacy in medications and health products usage are required. Activities should be followed and focus on health literacy. Then, it results in good health for the older adults and improves their ability to be self-care as well.