Abstract:
Background: Elderly people with inadequate health literacy are less mindful of health behaviors significance.
Study aim: to detect the effect of health literacy program on health risk behaviors among the elderly. Methodology: Quasi-experimental design was used; the study was carried out at two geriatric clubs (Geriatric club in Legitimacy Assembly and Geriatric club of Islamic cultural center). The program was conducted on participants with low health literacy level; their number was 150 older adults. Tools: four tools were utilized. Tool I: Self-administered questionnaire: It includes the socio-demographic characteristics and questions related to health risk behaviors. Tool II: Body mass index calculation. Tool III: Health Literacy Assessment Scale. Tool IV: Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine Scale (REALM). Results: adequate health literacy level score increases from 0 at pretest to 78.7%, 76% respectively at post test & follow up test. Also, there was a significant difference between pre and post-test regarding health literacy level P <0.0001. Conclusion: Low health literacy is associated with health behaviors and poor adherence of prescribed medications. Recommendation: Evidence-based communication strategies as ‘teach back’ method are more effective with clients.