Older adults’ perceptions of how health professionals communicate information
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21527/2176-7114.2025.50.15304Keywords:
Health Communication, Health Literacy, Primary Health Care, Elderly, NursingAbstract
Objective: To identify the perception of older adults with limited or inadequate Functional Health Literacy regarding how primary healthcare professionals communicate information. Method: This is a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive study. Twenty-seven older adults participated. Data were collected from seven Family Health Units in a city in the southern region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Results: The participants' average Functional Health Literacy score was 36.21 points, indicating inadequate literacy. They reported difficulties that compromised their understanding, including the excessive amount of information provided during medical appointments and the need to bring a family member to help interpret the information. Final considerations: Identifying the difficulties reported by older adults in understanding health information supports the development of strategies to improve health outcomes in this population's care.
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