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 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.

scholarly journals Relationship between health literacy and quality of life among cancer survivors in China: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. e028458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Xia ◽  
Peng Wu ◽  
Qinglong Deng ◽  
Rui Yan ◽  
Renren Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cancer Rehabilitation ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between health literacy (HL) and quality of life (QOL) among cancer survivors in China.DesignCross-sectional study in China.Setting and participantsThis is a cross-sectional observational study of 4589 cancer survivors aged 18 years and older from the Shanghai Cancer Rehabilitation Club. Participants were enrolled and completed the questionnaires between May and July 2017.MeasurementHL was assessed by three established screening questions and QOL was evaluated using the simplified Chinese version of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Questionnaire-Core 30 items. Answers to all questionnaires were collected through face-to-face interviews or through self-administered questionnaires for literate participants. Participants were excluded if they did not answer any one of the HL questions. Baseline characteristics were compared by levels of HL using χ2 test for categorical variables and Wilcoxon rank-sum test for non-normal continuous variables. The item response theory (IRT) was used to evaluate the existing measure of HL. Linear regression and logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between HL and QOL. SAS V.9.4 and MULTILOG V.7.03 were used in the analysis.ResultsThere were 4589 participants included in the study. The calculated results of IRT scale parameters of HL entries indicate that the entries have better discrimination and difficulty. Of the 4589 respondents, 159 (3.5%) had low HL. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, treatment regimen and years with cancers, for each one-point decrement in HL score the QOL score increased by 2.07 (p<0.001). Cancer survivors with low HL were less likely than those with adequate HL to achieve better QOL. In logistic regression, low HL was independently associated with poor QOL (adjusted OR, 2.81; 95% CI 1.94 to 4.06; p<0.001).ConclusionsLow HL was independently associated with poor QOL among cancer survivors of the Shanghai Cancer Rehabilitation Club.

scholarly journals Factors associated with health literacy in multimorbid patients in primary care: a cross-sectional study in Switzerland

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e018281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra A N’Goran ◽  
Jérôme Pasquier ◽  
Anouk Deruaz-Luyet ◽  
Bernard Burnand ◽  
Dagmar M Haller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Treatment Burden ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Multimorbid Patients

ObjectiveTo identify factors associated with health literacy in multimorbid patients.DesignA nationwide cross-sectional study in Switzerland. Univariate and multivariate linear regressions were calculated to identify variables associated with health literacy. A multiple imputation approach was used to deal with missing values.ParticipantsMultimorbid patients recruited in primary care settings (n=888), above 18 years old and suffering from at least 3 of 75 chronic conditions on a predefined list based on the International Classification of Primary Care 2.Main measuresHealth literacy was assessed using the European Health Literacy Survey project questionnaire (HLS-EU 6). This comprises six items scored from 1 to 4 (very difficult=1, fairly difficult=2, fairly easy=3, very easy=4), and the total health literacy score is computed as their mean. As we wished to understand the determinants associated with lower health literacy, the HLS-EU 6 score was the only dependent variable; all other covariates were considered independent.ResultsThe mean health literacy score (SD) was 2.9 (0.5). Multivariate analyses found significant associations between low health literacy scores and treatment burden scores (β=−0.004, 95% CI −0.006 to 0.002); marital status, predominantly the divorced group (β=0.136, 95% CI 0.012 to 0.260); dimensions of the EuroQuol 5 Dimension 3 Level (EQ5D3L) quality of life assessment, that is, for moderate problems with mobility (β=−0.086, 95% CI −0.157 to 0.016); and with moderate problems (β=−0.129, 95% CI −0.198 to 0.060) and severe problems with anxiety/depression (β=−0.343, 95% CI −0.500 to 0.186).ConclusionsMultimorbid patients with a high treatment burden, altered quality of life by problems with mobility, anxiety or depression, often also have low levels of health literacy. Primary care practitioners should therefore pay particular attention to these patients in their daily practice.

scholarly journals Health-Related Quality of Life Profiles in Dialyzed Patients With Varying Health Literacy. A Cross-Sectional Study on Slovak Haemodialyzed Population

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Skoumalova ◽  
Andrea Madarasova Geckova ◽  
Jaroslav Rosenberger ◽  
Maria Majernikova ◽  
Peter Kolarcik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) strongly affects patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL), mostly in the advanced stages of CKD. Health literacy (HL) may affect this association, in particular for some aspects of HRQoL. The aim of this study is to compare the profiles of HRQoL in dialyzed patients with varying HL.Methods: We obtained data on HL using the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) and on HRQoL using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life – Short Form (KDQoL-SF 1.3) in a multicentre cross-sectional study in 20 dialysis clinics in Slovakia (n = 542; mean age = 63.6 years; males: 60.7%). We compared HRQoL for three HL groups using ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test.Results: Patients with low HL reported worse HRQoL than patients with moderate and high HL. The greatest differences between HL groups were found in the scales Effect of kidney disease, Cognitive function, Quality of social interaction, Social support, Dialysis staff encouragement, Patient satisfaction, Physical functioning, Pain, Emotional well-being and Social function. p-values in all cases were &lt;0.001.Conclusion: Patients with low HL have a worse HRQoL in several domains than patients with a higher HL. Increasing HL capacities and better supporting patients with low HL should thus be given priority to support their HRQoL and at least maintain its level.

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