Exploring Health Literacy Categories in Patients With Heart Failure

Background/Aims Research has shown that health literacy can influence an individual's ability to practise self-care, particularly for patients with heart failure. This study aimed to assess health literacy and its relationship with heart failure knowledge and self-care practices in this patient group. Methods An observational sub-study was conducted with the data from a large randomised control trial that evaluated the relationship between patients' health literacy, general literacy, knowledge of heart failure and self-care. Results A total of 36 participants were recruited, of which 33 (89.9%) had adequate levels of health literacy. Health literacy was positively associated with heart failure knowledge. However, 67.7% of participants with adequate health literacy were found to have inadequate levels of self-care management. Conclusions Health literacy may facilitate better heart failure knowledge, but it does not necessarily lead to improved self-care management in patients with heart failure. This suggest that clinicians need to put more emphasis on translating knowledge into behavioural changes for self-care in this patient group.

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Numeracy, Health Literacy, Cognition, and 30-Day Readmissions among Patients with Heart Failure

Journal of Hospital Medicine ◽

10.12788/jhm.2932 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Madeline R Sterling ◽

Monika M. Safford ◽

Kathryn Goggins ◽

Sam K Nwosu ◽

Jonathan S. Schildcrout ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Patients With Heart Failure

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Health literacy and adherence to treatment of patients with heart failure

Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP ◽

10.1590/s1980-220x2017039803447 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 53 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Monica Isabelle Lopes Oscalices ◽

Meiry Fernanda Pinto Okuno ◽

Maria Carolina Barbosa Teixeira Lopes ◽

Ruth Ester Assayag Batista ◽

Cassia Regina Vancini Campanharo

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Medication Adherence ◽

Health Literacy ◽

White Women ◽

Patient Adherence ◽

Functional Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Adherence To Medication ◽

Patients With Heart Failure ◽

Medical Questionnaire

ABSTRACT Objective: To relate the level of functional health literacy with adherence and barriers to non-adherence, rehospitalization, readmission and death in patients with heart failure. Method: A cross-sectional, analytical study with patients admitted to the emergency room with a diagnosis of heart failure. Literacy was assessed by the Newest Vital Sign. Patient adherence to medication treatment and barriers to non-compliance were assessed 90 days after discharge by the Morisky-Green test and the Brief Medical Questionnaire, respectively. Results: 100 patients participated in the study. The mean age was 63.3 years (± 15.2), with a predominance of white women. Medication adherence was low in 41.1% of participants, of which 55.9% presented inadequate literacy. Re-hospitalization and death were present in patients with inadequate literacy (p<0.001). Conclusion: The low level of literacy was directly related to lower adherence and the presence of barriers to medication adherence, as well as higher rehospitalization rates and death.

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