Effectiveness of Interventions to Improve Health Literacy on Medication Use Among Older Adults: A Systematic Review

Background/Objectives: Older adults should be capable of reasoned judgments regarding their health, lifestyle, and disease management. Therefore, interventions to improve Health Literacy (HL) are essential for empowering older adults to make choices that improve their quality of life. Correct medication use is vital to maintaining and enhancing health outcomes in older adults. This study aimed to identify the most effective HL interventions with impact on medication use among older adults. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using MEDLINE (PubMed) and EMBASE to identify interventional studies evaluating HL interventions that have an impact on medication use in older adults. Results: Three studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. The evidence indicates that HL interventions have positive effects and can be effectively implemented by several healthcare professionals through tailored communication strategies. However, the review underscores a substantial lack of high-quality research on HL strategies aimed at improving medication use in older adults, particularly given the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and polypharmacy in this population. Conclusions: This systematic review identifies substantial research gaps regarding HL interventions and their impact on medication use among older adults. While the included studies demonstrate encouraging outcomes, further rigorous research is necessary to develop specific HL interventions addressing medication-related challenges in older adults.