Abstract: ObjectiveTo establish an influence mode of health literacy and to explore the effects of health literacy on self-care ability,physical-mental health,and social condition in older people in nursing homes with structural equation model.MethodsFrom September 2011 to June 2012,cluster sampling method was used to select 1 396 elderly people(≥60 years of age)in 44 nursing homes in Urumqi,Changji,Shihezi,and Karamay.Five instruments were used in the survey,including Health Literacy Scale,Exercise of Self-Care Agency Scale,Social Support Rating Scale,Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire,and Activity of Daily Living Scale.ResultsFitness indices of the established structural equation model were goodness-of-fit(GFI)=0.957,adjusted goodness-of-fit(AFGI)=0.917,comparative fitness index(CFI)=0.947,incremental fit index(IFI)=0.948,normed-fit index(NFI)=0.941,parsimony goodness-of-fit index(PGFI)=0.501,parsimony normed-fit index(PNFI)=0.569,root mean square of approximation(RMSEA)=0.072,and Hoelter's critical n(CN)=227.000.The fitness of the structural equation model was fine for health literacy influence mode based on the threshold theory.The regression path analysis showed that all the influence paths were tenable(P<0.05).The direct influence path coefficient for health literacy on self-care agency was 0.263.The direct influence path coefficient for health literacy on social support was 0.471.The total effect coefficient for health literacy on health status was 0.268.ConclusionThe health literacy influence mode can be used in the interventions on health education and health promotion in elderly people.