The influence of beliefs and health literacy on medication use among older Koreans living in Australia

OBJECTIVES: Older Koreans are a small but growing ethnic community in Australia, yet little is known about how beliefs and health literacy affect their medication use. This study explored the associations among beliefs, health literacy, and medication-use behaviours in this population. METHODS: Older Korean adults living in metropolitan Melbourne were recruited through bilingual community outreach. Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing the self-efficacy for appropriate medication use scale (SEAMS), beliefs about medicines, attitudes toward deprescribing, and health literacy. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analyses were conducted. KEY FINDINGS: Thirty participants were included (mean age 70 ± 3.3 years). SEAMS scores indicated low medication self-efficacy (mean 20.5 ± 6.5). Higher self-efficacy was associated with better health literacy, particularly feeling supported by healthcare providers (r = 0.638, P < .001) and understanding health information (r = 0.630, P < .001). Beliefs that medicines are overused were negatively associated with self-efficacy (r = -0.553, P = .002) and positively associated with polypharmacy (r = 0.420, P = .026). Harm beliefs were associated with potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use (r = 0.479, P = .010). Polypharmacy was associated with greater medication concerns (r = 0.433, P = .022) and perceived necessity (r = 0.622, P < .001). Higher health literacy was consistently associated with greater self-efficacy and lower polypharmacy and PIM use. CONCLUSIONS: Medication beliefs and health literacy influence medication self-efficacy, polypharmacy, and PIM use among older Korean Australians. Culturally appropriate interventions may improve medication safety and management.