The association between health literacy and self-care of hypertension among older adults in five regions in Jordan

This study aims to determine the relationship between health literacy and the self-care of hypertension in older adults in five regions in Jordan.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,100 older adult patients with hypertension who had follow-ups in cardiac clinics of the five biggest hospitals in five regions of Jordan. The research instruments included a Health Literacy Questionnaire (CHEWQ) and the self-care of hypertension inventory.

The average health literacy score was 8.52 ± 1.6, indicating inadequate health literacy, while their self-care of hypertension score was 42.33 ± 10.9, indicating low self-care. Inadequate health literacy and factors such as marital status, education level, income and overall health status were linked to poor self-care of hypertension (p < 0.05).

This study suggests that there is a need to assess the effectiveness of various health literacy interventions, such as educational programs and customized communication strategies, in enhancing self-care behaviors across diverse populations, particularly among the elderly.

The study findings highlight the need for nursing interventions aimed at improving health literacy to enhance the ability of older adults in Jordan to manage their hypertension.