Health Literacy, Social Support and Quality of Life in Chinese Health Examination Population

Background: Health literacy has become an important determinant of population health. Understanding health literacy levels among physical examination populations in China and examining their associations with social support and quality of life can provide evidence to guide preventive health strategies. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May 2023 to May 2024 among 416 individuals undergoing routine physical examinations at a tertiary hospital in Xi'an, China. Participants completed a socio-demographic characteristics questionnaire, the Health Literacy Surveillance Rapid Assessment Questionnaire, the Social Support Rating Scale and the Euro-Qol five-dimension questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and multiple linear regression models were used to examine health literacy status, associated factors, and the former's relationships with social support and quality of life. Results: Health literacy in the physical examination population was higher than the national average, and the proficiency rate was 52.4%. The findings indicate a significant and positive association between social support and health literacy (r = 0.398, p < 0.01); health literacy was found to be significantly and positively associated with quality of life (r = 0.216, p < 0.01). According to the multiple linear regression analysis, factors correlated with health literacy included age, gender, place of residence, marital status, educational level, monthly household income, payment method for physical examinations, frequency of physical examinations, and social support. Conclusions: Enhancing the health education competencies of medical personnel to enable effective dissemination of health information during physical examinations, promoting family involvement in health management to cultivate collective health awareness and practices, and improving the medical insurance system to encourage regular physical examinations are effective strategies for strengthening public health literacy.