Health literacy and adherence to drug treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus

The low health literacy in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Health literacy (HL) impacts people's health and well-being. In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), there are no general estimates of the prevalence of low HL. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of low HL among citizens of LAC and identify the tools used to measure it.

METHODS

We included observational studies quantifying the prevalence of low HL in people living in LAC. We searched PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, ERIC, LILACS, PsycINFO, Redalyc, SciELO, Web of Science, PQDT, and the reference lists of the included studies in June 2023. Two reviewers independently conducted the selection, extraction, and risk of bias assessment using the JBI Critical Appraisal Tools. Meta-analysis of proportions using random effects models was used to summarize the prevalence of low HL estimated. This prevalence was measured in each study using different classification methods: word recognition items, reading and numeracy comprehension items, and self-reported comprehension items.

RESULTS

Eighty four studies involving 23,914 participants from 15 countries were included. We identified 23 tools to assess HL, and most of the studies were carried out in health services. The pooled prevalence of low HL were 44.02% (95%CI: 36.12-52.24) for reading and numeracy comprehension items, 50.62% (95%CI: 41.82-59.39) for word recognition items, and 41.73% (95%CI: 31.76-52.43) for self-reported comprehension items.

CONCLUSION

Despite the variability in the prevalence of low HL and a diversity of tools, the average of low HL is of concern. Almost half of the participants in the included studies have low HL. Most of the studies targeted users of healthcare services. Further research investigating the prevalence of low HL in the general population and actions focused on health education, communication, and information are necessary.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO (CRD42021250286).

Influence of functional health literacy on adherence to antidepressant treatment

OBJECTIVE

To verify the influence of patients' level of functional health literacy on adherence to antidepressant treatment.

METHOD

Cross-sectional study, carried out in pharmacies of the Municipal Health Department of Marília-SP, in 2020/2021. The functional literacy questionnaire verified the numerical and interpretative skills of patients, in the face of texts related to the health area. The adherence to the treatment was verified using the Morisky therapeutic adherence scale, and the data were analyzed by Anova-one-way and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

RESULTS

A total of 150 patients participated in the study, most of them showed failures in adherence and an inadequate level of functional health literacy. However, there was no correlation between functional health literacy and treatment adherence.

CONCLUSION

Although no correlation was found between the variables, there is a need for greater investments in terms of adherence to the treatment, with strategies that consider the level of functional health literacy in these patients.

Influência do letramento funcional em saúde na adesão ao tratamento com antidepressivos

RESUMO Objetivo Verificar a influência do nível de letramento funcional em saúde dos pacientes na adesão ao tratamento com antidepressivos. Método Estudo transversal, realizado nas farmácias da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Marília-SP, em 2020/2021. O questionário de letramento funcional verificou as habilidades numéricas e de interpretação dos pacientes, diante de textos relacionados à área de saúde. A adesão ao tratamento foi verificada pela escala de adesão terapêutica de Morisky, e os dados foram analisados por Anova-one-way e teste de Kruskal-Wallis. Resultados Participaram do estudo 150 pacientes, cuja maioria apresentou falhas na adesão e nível inadequado de letramento funcional em saúde, entretanto, não houve correlação entre letramento funcional em saúde e adesão ao tratamento. Conclusão Embora não tenha sido encontrada correlação entre as variáveis, há a necessidade de maiores investimentos em relação à adesão ao tratamento, com estratégias que considerem o nível de letramento funcional em saúde, nestes pacientes.

Correlation Between Functional Health Literacy and Self-efficacy in People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Cross-sectional Study

To analyze the correlation between functional health literacy (FHL) and self-efficacy (SE) in people with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Cross-sectional study was conducted among September and October 2019, with 196 people with type 2 diabetes. Data were collected using the Functional Literacy in Health instrument (B-TOFHLA) and the Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DMSES). Bivariate analysis was used to verify the relationship among the constructs. Most diabetics showed an average B-TOFHLA score of 74.75, considered adequate, and self-efficacy of 4.07, high. The association between SE and FHL in the bivariate analysis found no statistical significance (p > .05), in the same sense as the B-TOFHLA score and the DMSES domains (p > .05). Constructs were not related to each other in terms of skills arising from judgments and decisions with motivational confidence by the investigated audience.

Functional health literacy in hypertensive elders at primary health care

ABSTRACT Objective: to assess the relationship between inadequate functional health literacy and inadequate blood pressure control in older people with hypertension in Primary Health Care. Method: a cross-sectional study with sample calculated at 392. SAHLPA-18 tool was used for functional health literacy; blood pressure was measured; sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. Hierarchical logistic regression was used. Results: (high) inadequate blood pressure and (low) functional inadequate health literacy were present in 41.6% and 54.6% of the people, respectively. Factors associated with inadequate blood pressure were: inadequate functional health literacy, black-brown skin color, overweight-obesity, hypertension diagnosis time, non-adherence to exercise/diet, drug treatment. Schooling had no association with inadequate blood pressure Conclusion: hypertensive elderly people with inadequate health literacy were more likely to have inadequate blood pressure. Thus, health professionals need to value functional health literacy as a possible component to control blood pressure.