scholarly journals Level of literacy and clinical outcomes in patients with Chagas disease: SaMi-Trop project

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
N Quintino ◽  
G David ◽  
E Sabino ◽  
J L Silva ◽  
A L Ribeiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Perceived Health ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Endemic Region ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
High Prevalence

Abstract Background Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected tropical disease that affects mainly vulnerable population, whose majority has low ability to understand health information. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of health literacy (HL) and its association with sociodemographic, quality of life, health care aspects and worse clinical outcomes. Methods This is a cross-sectional study developed inside a cohort study (SaMi-Trop) including 1959 patients. It has been conducted in an endemic region to CD in Brazil. The eligible criteria for HL evaluation was the ability to read. The HL was assessed with SALPHA-18 scale and literacy was categorized in inadequate HL; adequate HL and; illiterate. Multiple models were adjusted using binary logistic regression, multinomial and beta regression models using the gamlss framework. Results Of the patients included, 1136 (74.1%) are illiterate. For HL assessment, only 397 managed to complete the HL evaluation. The prevalence of inadequate HL was 85.1% (338), only 59 patients (14.9%) had adequate HL. Our results are as following: 1) being illiterate increases the chance of using more drugs when compared to individuals with adequate HL - 1 or 2 drugs (OR: 1.96; CI: 1.06-3.62) and 3 to 4 medications (OR: 3.06; CI:1.44-6.52), to have hypertension (OR: 2.24; CI: 1.29-3.90), report an average self-perceived health (OR: 2.97; IC: 1.63-5.42) and report poor self-perceived health (OR: 3.67; CI: 1.71-7.89); 2) inadequate literacy increases the chance of using 3 to 4 medications (OR: 2.26; CI: 1.04-4.93) and report an average self-perceived health (OR: 2.48; CI: 1.34-4.62); 3) Illiterate patients present worst quality of life scores in Physical (OR: 0,730; CI: 0,583-0,914), Psychological (OR: 0,671; CI: 0,544-0,828) and Environmental (OR: 0,727; CI: 0,601-0,880) domains. Conclusions We found a high prevalence of inadequate HL; it was associated with worse clinical outcomes and poor self-perceived health. Key messages Our findings reinforce the importance of improving health communication in CD patients seeking to avoid unfavorable outcomes. A high prevalence of inadequate health literacy was observed in our study, which can impact the self-care ability of patients with CD.

scholarly journals Prevalence and management of headache in a selected area of Southern Santa Catarina

2010 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 216-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taís dos Santos Corrêa ◽  
Kelly Miranda dos Santos ◽  
Dayani Galato
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Disability Assessment ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Self Medication ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Headache Management ◽  
Prescribed Medicines

Headache is a worldwide health problem which affects quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence and management of headache and examine its impact. METHOD: A cross-sectional study with 240 participants was performed to collect data related to (a) headache occurrence, (b) its impact through the "Migraine Disability Assessment Test" (Midas), and (c) headache management. RESULTS: Last year prevalence (2008) was 64.6%. There was a low Midas score in 80.6% of cases. With regard to headache management, 86.4% of respondents said that they use medicines, mainly analgesics (73.9%). Prescribed medicines were used in 31.0% of cases, although 72.4% of those were old prescriptions. Headache was associated with gender (p=0.0002), occupation (p=0.0109) and mean age (p=0.0083), while the Midas score was associated with pain intensity (p=0.0069) and the use of drugs only during headache crisis (p=0.0464). CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence of headaches and a low level of disability among the population studied, being the management based on self-medication.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Health Literacy, Quality of Life, and Subjective Health: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study in a Rural Region in Germany

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna T. Ehmann ◽  
Oliver Groene ◽  
Monika A. Rieger ◽  
Achim Siegel
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Subjective Health ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Subjective Health Status ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Integrated Healthcare

Low health literacy is associated with poorer health and quality of life. An open question is whether a regional integrated healthcare system whose management strives to enable and empower its members with regard to health issues can contribute to a higher level of health literacy in the population. Against this background, in a cross-sectional study we surveyed a random selection of members of an integrated healthcare system in southwestern Germany (n = 180). The standardized questionnaire included, inter alia, questions on health literacy and subjective health. In this sample we wanted to (1) determine the proportion of respondents with sufficient health literacy and (2) investigate whether the association between health literacy and quality of life and subjective health status—as found in other studies—can be replicated. In our sample a health literacy score could be calculated in 126 subjects (70%). A sufficient level of health literacy was detected in 62% of respondents. Confirming the findings of a meta-analysis based on international studies, we found moderate correlations between health literacy and quality of life (r = 0.41) and health literacy and subjective health status (r = 0.40); these correlations hardly decreased when we controlled for various sociodemographic characteristics. As the proportion of respondents with sufficient health literacy was higher in our sample than in comparable studies conducted in Germany, we may hypothesize that an integrated healthcare system like the one we surveyed could have contributed to increased health literacy in the population. Thus, it could be worthwhile to investigate this research question with a more rigorous study design and a larger sample.

scholarly journals People with Suspected COVID-19 Symptoms Were More Likely Depressed and Had Lower Health-Related Quality of Life: The Potential Benefit of Health Literacy

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 965 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoang C. Nguyen ◽  
Minh H. Nguyen ◽  
Binh N. Do ◽  
Cuong Q. Tran ◽  
Thao T. P. Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Hrqol Score ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Lower Hrqol

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic affects people’s health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), especially in those who have suspected COVID-19 symptoms (S-COVID-19-S). We examined the effect of modifications of health literacy (HL) on depression and HRQoL. A cross-sectional study was conducted from 14 February to 2 March 2020. 3947 participants were recruited from outpatient departments of nine hospitals and health centers across Vietnam. The interviews were conducted using printed questionnaires including participants’ characteristics, clinical parameters, health behaviors, HL, depression, and HRQoL. People with S-COVID-19-S had a higher depression likelihood (OR, 2.88; p < 0.001), lower HRQoL-score (B, −7.92; p < 0.001). In comparison to people without S-COVID-19-S and low HL, those with S-COVID-19-S and low HL had 9.70 times higher depression likelihood (p < 0.001), 20.62 lower HRQoL-score (p < 0.001), for the people without S-COVID-19-S, 1 score increment of HL resulted in 5% lower depression likelihood (p < 0.001) and 0.45 higher HRQoL-score (p < 0.001), while for those people with S-COVID-19-S, 1 score increment of HL resulted in a 4% lower depression likelihood (p = 0.004) and 0.43 higher HRQoL-score (p < 0.001). People with S-COVID-19-S had a higher depression likelihood and lower HRQoL than those without. HL shows a protective effect on depression and HRQoL during the epidemic.

scholarly journals Mental health literacy and quality of life in Iran: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Jafari ◽  
Mahbobeh Nejatian ◽  
Vahideh Momeniyan ◽  
Fatemeh Ramezani Barsalani ◽  
Hadi Tehrani
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Mental health is one of the effective factors in the quality of life of people. The aim of the present study was to determine the status of mental health literacy (MHL) and its relationship with the quality of life across the Iranian general population. Methods In this cross-sectional study, a multi-stage sampling method was used to survey 1070 participants from the city of Gonabad (Iran). The data collection tools were demographics section, mental health literacy scale (MHLS), and quality of life (SF-12) questionnaires. The data was analyzed by SPSS software version 24 using Independent sample t- test, One- way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and logistic regression. Results The mean and standard deviation of the total scores of MHL and quality of life were 113.54 (10.34) and 35.26 (6.42), respectively. The results revealed that there was a significant positive correlation between MHL and the quality of life (p < 0.001). In this study, there was a significant relationship between variables of sex, level of education, plus received information about mental illness and MHL (p < 0.001). The quality of life was higher in participants whose family members did not have a mental illness, had a high-income level, and received information about mental illness (p < 0.001). Logistic regression indicated that there was a significant relationship between the ability to recognize mental disorders plus knowledge of where to seek information and obtaining information related to mental health (p < 0.001). Conclusion Based on the results of this study, there was a correlation between health literacy and quality of life, and more attention should be paid to MHL. Thus, appropriate programs should be designed and implemented to enhance the level of MHL.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document