[Comprehension of medical terminology in older adults: a cross-sectional study]

Health literacy (HL) is the ability to obtain, interpret, and comprehend medical information necessary for decision-making. The objective was to determine the understanding of medical terminology in adults over 60 years old and its predictors.

Adults over 60 years old who were in the waiting room of scheduled clinics were surveyed using the SAHLSA-50 (Short Assessment of Health Literacy for Spanish Adults) questionnaire, validated in Spanish. Comprehension was considered inadequate if the score was 37 or lower. A linear regression model was constructed between sociodemographic predictors and the level of understanding with SAHLSA-50. Regression coefficients with their 95% CIs are presented.

A total of 323 participants with a mean age of 72.5 years (SD 6.6) were included, 53.0% had a primary education level. The median SAHLSA-50 score was 45 points (IQR 42-49). The 4.6% of participants had inadequate understanding. In the multivariate model, the only independent predictor of understanding was the educational level, with a coefficient of 0.89 (95% CI 0.68-1.09), acquiring a medical term for each increase in the educational stratum.

Educational level is a determining factor in the comprehension of medical terminology. Health professionals should adjust the level of their discourse to the population they serve.