Statistical Exploration of Health Literacy Survey in Korean Medical Panel

Health literacy was a concept related to individual hospital use when it was first introduced by the World Health Organization in 1974.Today, it has expanded to access population health promotion.In Korea, after being first introduced in 2005, the health literacy measurement was conducted as an additional survey in the second survey of the 2nd Korean Medical Panel, with the health literacy (health information understanding ability) survey included in the 5th National Health Promotion Comprehensive Plan established in 2021.This study conducted a statistical search using national health literacy data for the first time in Korea.As a result, the reliability of HLS-EU-Q16, a survey tool, was secured, but efforts to increase the validity were necessary.As a result of statistical analysis of health literacy, health-related factors, and demographic factors, the lower the age group, the higher the education level, and the better the subjective health status as a man, the higher the health literacy score.In addition, it was found that the quality of life improved through improved health literacy.Therefore, this study is expected to help in future national surveys and policy-making related to health literacy.