Health literacy following an educational intervention in older Australians

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Older Australians are high consumers of complementary medicines (CMs) such as nutritional supplements (minerals and vitamins) and herbal medicines. CM may offer a way for older people to cope with their ill health, to engage in maintaining their health, and to improve their quality of life. National policy states consumers are responsible for: asking for and utilising information, to make decisions and take actions that enable medicines to be chosen and used wisely, being aware of the risks and benefits of medicines, developing skills and confidence to use medicines appropriately, and seeking help to solve problems when they arise. Our study identified older Australians had difficulties navigating the health care system to discuss and use CM; finding good CM information, and appraising this information. Our findings highlight the potential for older vulnerable people to be misinformed and to make inappropriate self-care decisions. To facilitate older Australians to take an active role in their health, we will develop and evaluate a novel educational intervention based on our preliminary research to support self-advice, good decision making, and improve health literacy skills. One hundred and sixty residents in Western Sydney, NSW will be invited to participate in a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effect of an education intervention to increase their decision making regarding CM and self-care, health literacy and their ability to actively engage and navigate the health care systems.