Health literacy among different age groups in Germany: results of a cross-sectional survey.
Health literacy is of increasing importance in public health research. It is a necessary pre-condition for the involvement in decisions about health and health care and related to health outcomes. Knowledge about limited health literacy in different age groups is crucial to better target public health interventions for subgroups of the population. However, little is known about health literacy in Germany. The study therefore assesses the prevalence of limited health literacy and associated factors among different age groups.



The Health Literacy Survey Germany is a cross-sectional study with 2,000 participants aged 15 years or older in private households. Perceived health literacy was assessed via computer-assisted personal interviews using the HLS-EU-Q-47 questionnaire. Descriptive analyses, chi-square tests and odds ratios were performed stratified for different age groups.



The population affected by limited perceived health literacy increases by age. Of the respondents aged 15-29 years, 47.3 % had limited perceived health literacy and 47.2 % of those aged 30-45 years, whereas 55.2 % of the respondents aged 46-64 years and 66.4 % aged 65 years and older showed limited perceived health literacy. In all age groups, limited perceived health literacy was associated with limited functional health literacy, low social status, and a high frequency of doctor visits.



The results suggest a need to further investigate perceived health literacy in all phases of the life-course. Particular attention should be devoted to persons with lower social status, limited functional health literacy and/or a high number of doctor visits in all age groups.
Department of Health Services Research and Nursing Science, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Universitaetsstrasse 25, 33615, Bielefeld, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany. eva-maria.berens@uni-bielefeld.de.
Eva-Maria
0000-0001-9181-2706
EM
Berens
Department of Health Services Research and Nursing Science, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Universitaetsstrasse 25, 33615, Bielefeld, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany.
Dominique
D
Vogt
Department of Health Services Research and Nursing Science, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Universitaetsstrasse 25, 33615, Bielefeld, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany.
Melanie
M
Messer
Hertie School of Governance, Friedrichstraße 180, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
Klaus
K
Hurrelmann
Department of Health Services Research and Nursing Science, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Universitaetsstrasse 25, 33615, Bielefeld, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany.
Doris
D
Schaeffer
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Age groups; Doctor visits; General population; Germany; HLS-EU-Q; Health literacy; Socio-economic factors; Survey