Enhancing Health Literacy and Self-Care Abilities among Individuals with Chronic Diseases

Authors

  • Kusrini Kadar Department of Nursing, College Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, UAE

Keywords:

Health Literacy, Self Care, Chronic Disease

Abstract

Health literacy is an essential element in the effective management of chronic diseases. It provides a foundation for individuals to understand, evaluate, and utilize health information, thus enabling them to make well-informed decisions regarding their care. For individuals living with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, health literacy is not just about understanding their health needs; it is about empowering them to manage their conditions effectively, make informed healthcare decisions, and maintain a higher quality of life. This writing explores the multidimensional relationship between health literacy and self-care abilities among people with chronic diseases, examining the factors affecting health literacy, its impact on self-care, strategies for improvement, and the pivotal role of health professionals in this context.

References

Allen-Meares, P., Lowry, B., Estrella, M. L., & Mansuri, S. (2020). Health Literacy Barriers in the Health Care System: Barriers and Opportunities for the Profession. Health Soc Work, 45(1), 62–64. https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hlz034

Alqarni, A. S., Pasay-an, E., Saguban, R., Cabansag, D., Gonzales, F., Alkubati, S., . . . Mostoles, R. (2023). Relationship between the Health Literacy and Self-Medication Behavior of Primary Health Care Clientele in the Hail Region, Saudi Arabia: Implications for Public Health. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 13(6), 1043-1057. https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/13/6/80

Charoghchian Khorasani, E., Tavakoly Sany, S. B., Tehrani, H., Doosti, H., & Peyman, N. (2020). Review of Organizational Health Literacy Practice at Health Care Centers: Outcomes, Barriers and Facilitators. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 17(20). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17207544

Chesser, A., Keene Woods, N., Smothers, K., & Rogers, N. (2016). Health Literacy and Older Adults: A Systematic Review. Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, p. 2. https://doi.org/10.1177/2333721416630492

Dinh, T. T. H., & Bonner, A. (2023). Exploring the relationships between health literacy, social support, self-efficacy, and self-management in adults with multiple chronic diseases. BMC Health Services Research, 23(1), 923. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09907-5

Farmanova, E., Bonneville, L., & Bouchard, L. (2018). Organizational Health Literacy: Review of Theories, Frameworks, Guides, and Implementation Issues. INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 55, 0046958018757848. https://doi.org/10.1177/0046958018757848

Fitzpatrick, P. J. (2023). Improving health literacy using the power of digital communications to achieve better health outcomes for patients and practitioners [Review]. Frontiers in Digital Health, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2023.1264780

Furuya, Y., Kondo, N., Yamagata, Z., & Hashimoto, H. (2015). Health literacy, socioeconomic status and self-rated health in Japan. Health Promot Int, 30(3), 505-513. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/dat071

Geboers, B., Uiters, E., Reijneveld, S. A., Jansen, C. J. M., Almansa, J., Nooyens, A. C. J., . . . Picavet, H. S. J. (2018). Health literacy among older adults is associated with their 10-years’ cognitive functioning and decline - the Doetinchem Cohort Study. BMC Geriatrics, 18(1), 77. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-018-0766-7

Ghorbani-Dehbalaei, M., Loripoor, M., & Nasirzadeh, M. (2021). The role of health beliefs and health literacy in women's health-promoting behaviors based on the health belief model: a descriptive study. BMC Womens Health, 21(1), 421. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-021-01564-2

Jansen, T., Rademakers, J., Waverijn, G., Verheij, R., Osborne, R., & Heijmans, M. (2018). The role of health literacy in explaining the association between educational attainment and the use of out-of-hours primary care services in chronically ill people: a survey study. BMC Health Serv Res, 18(1), 394. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3197-4

Kadar, K. S., Mulyana, A. S., Indargairi, I., & Jeremiah, R. D. (2023). Cultural-Based Diabetes Self-Care Management Education for People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Empowering Community Health Workers (Kaders) Program Evaluation. Indonesian Contemporary Nursing Journal (ICON Journal), 8(1), 16-28. https://doi.org/10.20956/icon.v8i1.26055

Kanang, S. W. Y., Kadar, K., & Arafat, R. (2021). Teach back process in health education: A literature review. Jurnal Ilmiah Keperawatan (Scientific Journal of Nursing), 7(1), 85-96. https://doi.org/10.33023/jikep.v7i1.679

Kim, M. Y., & Oh, S. (2020). Nurses' Perspectives on Health Education and Health Literacy of Older Patients. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 17(18). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186455

Liu, L., Qian, X., Chen, Z., & He, T. (2020). Health literacy and its effect on chronic disease prevention: evidence from China’s data. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 690. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08804-4

Magnani, J. W., Mujahid, M. S., Aronow, H. D., Cené, C. W., Dickson, V. V., Havranek, E., . . . Willey, J. Z. (2018). Health Literacy and Cardiovascular Disease: Fundamental Relevance to Primary and Secondary Prevention: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation, 138(2), e48-e74. https://doi.org/doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000579

Malini, H., Efendi, F., Kadar, K. S., Lenggogeni, D. P., & Sari, Y. P. (2023). Health literacy and associated factors among patients with chronic diseases in Indonesia. Journal of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-023-02035-8

Park, J., & Zuniga, J. (2016). Effectiveness of using picture-based health education for people with low health literacy: An integrative review. Cogent Medicine, 3(1), 1264679. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331205X.2016.1264679

Putri, I. F., Kadar, K. S., & Syahrul, S. (2021). Health literacy instruments developed for the elderly with chronic disease: A literature review. Enfermería Clínica, 31, S769-S773. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enfcli.2021.07.030

Shahid, R., Shoker, M., Chu, L. M., Frehlick, R., Ward, H., & Pahwa, P. (2022). Impact of low health literacy on patients’ health outcomes: a multicenter cohort study. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 1148. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08527-9

Shaw, S., Huebner, C., Armin, J., Orzech, K., Orzech, K., & Vivian, J. (2008). The Role of Culture in Health Literacy and Chronic Disease Screening and Management. Journal of immigrant and minority health / Center for Minority Public Health, 11, 460-467. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9135-5

Smith, C. A., Chang, E., & Gallego, G. (2019). Complementary medicine use and health literacy in older Australians. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, pp. 42, 53–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.10.025

Talevski, J., Wong Shee, A., Rasmussen, B., Kemp, G., & Beauchamp, A. (2020). Teach-back: A systematic review of implementation and impacts. PLoS One, 15(4), e0231350. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231350

Van Wilder, L., Pype, P., Mertens, F., Rammant, E., Clays, E., Devleesschauwer, B., . . . De Smedt, D. (2021). Living with a chronic disease: Insights from patients with a low socioeconomic status. BMC Family Practice, 22(1), 233. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-021-01578-7

Additional Files

Published

2024-08-28