Effects of the Alpha-Health intervention on elderly’s health literacy in primary health care

Abstract

Objective: to assess the effects of the Alpha-Health intervention on health literacy and health habits of elderly people linked to primary care, when compared to usual health care. Methods: a quasi-experimental investigation, with mixed methods, with 21 elderly individuals in each group. Alpha-Health was performed by a nurse for five months. The Short Assessment of Health Literacy for Portuguese Speaking Adults, Health Literacy and questions about health habits were used. In the quantitative analysis, the GEE Model was used, and in the qualitative, thematic analysis. Results: there was an interaction effect on health literacy scores. Health habits such as vaccination, three meals a day and meat consumption had a statistically significant interaction effect. In the qualitative stage, development in skills of accessing, communicating and assessing information was observed as well as stability in the ability to understand. Conclusions: Alpha-Health is an important device for developing elderly’s health literacy.