ArticleJournal of Korean medical science2026
Association Between Health Literacy and Outpatient Expenditure in Korea.
Article in Journal of Korean medical science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- eHealth literacy mediates the relationship between health literacy and concussion attitudes among parents in South Korea.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Projecting National Outpatient Health Expenditures Under Health Literacy Improvement Scenarios: A Simulation Study.Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financingArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundHealth literacy (HL) is increasingly recognized as a crucial determinant of healthcare utilization and costs. Despite its importance, empirical evidence on the relationship between HL and healthcare expenditures in South Korea is limited. This issue is particularly timely and relevant given the country's rapidly rising outpatient expenditure.
methodsThis study analyzed data from the Korea Health Panel Survey conducted in 2021 (n = 8,630) to examine the association between HL and outpatient healthcare costs. HL was measured using the Korean version of the Health Literacy Survey European Questionnaire 16 (range: 0-16) and categorized as high (≥ 13) or low (≤ 12). Outpatient expenditure was defined as the sum of insurance-covered payments, out-of-pocket spending, and non-covered services, excluding pharmaceutical costs. Expenditure data were log-transformed and analyzed using multivariable linear regression. Subgroup analyses by age group were conducted under the assumption that healthcare utilization patterns vary across age categories.
resultsThe results showed that individuals with high HL spent 8.6% less on outpatient care than those with low HL. Subgroup analyses further revealed that this association was statistically significant only among adults aged 65 years and older.
conclusionThese findings provide evidence that higher HL is associated with reduced outpatient expenditures in South Korea, particularly in older populations. Therefore, promoting HL among older adults may represent an effective strategy for improving healthcare efficiency and mitigating the burden of rising outpatient costs.
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