J Korean Biol Nurs Sci.  2023 Aug;25(3):205-214. 10.7586/jkbns.23.0012.

Comparison of health literacy and health behaviors between Korean women with and without breast cancer

• Chung G
• Kim HJ

• KMID: 2548288
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7586/jkbns.23.0012

Abstract

Purpose
This descriptive survey compared health literacy and health behaviors between Korean women with and without breast cancer.
Methods
In total, 95 women with and 97 women without breast cancer (age range: 40–69 years) completed the survey. Health literacy and health behavior were analyzed in women with and without breast cancer, using the Newest Vital Sign.
Results
Women with breast cancer were less frequently alcohol drinkers (14.7% vs. 47.4%, p < .001) and more frequently exercised (65.3% vs. 49.5%, p = .027), obtained health information (17.9% vs. 8.2%, p = .047), and attended health education programs (10.5% vs. 1.0%, p = .005) than women without cancer. In both groups, women with higher literacy levels outnumbered those with limited literacy.
Conclusion
The results indicated that women with breast cancer were more likely to engage in health-promotion activities than women without cancer, and this increased their health literacy levels. The findings could inform interventions involving breast cancer prevention methods.

Keyword

Breast neoplasms; Health literacy; Health behavior; Korea; Women