HEALTH LITERACY OF INDIVIDUALS UNDERGOING DIALYSIS THERAPY

a cross-sectional study with 42 patients of the Nephrology Unit of a public hospital in Recife, Brazil, from May to August 2016. Data were collected through scripted interviews and chart analysis. Functional health literacy was measured using the Brazilian version of the Short-Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS^®) software, version 18.0, with a univariate analysis to verify the association between independent variables and functional health literacy levels using Fisher's exact test.

Results:

80.9% of the patients presented inadequate health literacy and 19.1% presented adequate health literacy. The number of correct answers remained between 0-18 in the reading comprehension and in the scheduling appointment card. Among the independent variables, only marital status (p-value=0.018) and personal income (p-value=0.009) were factors associated with the worst scores in the test, indicating that these variables influence the increase in inadequate literacy.

Conclusion:

the prevalence of inadequate functional literacy was high, reflecting difficulties in understanding and processing health information, which may interfere with therapeutic management and self-care.

DISCRIPTORS
Health literacy; Kidney disease; Dialysis; Knowledge; Self-care

Variables	N (%)
Sex
Male	16 (38.1)
Female	26 (61.9)
Age
23 - 40 years of age	17 (40.5)
41 - 59 years of age	15 (35.7)
60 year of age or older	10 (23.8)
Marital status
Married	23 (54.8)
Single	14 (33.3)
Widow	1 (2.4)
Separated/divorced	4 (9.5)
Family arrangement
Lives alone	2 (4.8)
Lives with spouse only	7 (16.7)
Lives with spouse and family members	12 (28.6)
Lives with family members	21 (50.0)
Formal education
Less than 4 years	2 (4.8)
4 - 7 years	10 (23.8)
8 - 10 years	10 (23.8)
11 or more years	20 (47.6)
Personal Income
R$880,00	29 (69.0)
R$1,7600	3 (7.1)
More than R$1,760	2 (4.8)
No income	8 (19.0)
Family Income
Less than R$880	1 (2.6)
R$880	13 (33.3)
R$1,760	17 (43.6)
More than R$1760	8 (20.5)
Social security situation
Retired	10 (23.8)
Illness-benefit	22 (52.4)
None	10 (23.8)

Variables	Number of correct answers
	N(%)
Correct alternatives in textual comprehension
0 - 18	29 (80.5)
19 - 27	8 (22.2)
28 - 36	5 (13.8)
Numeracy*
Medication interval times	30 (71.4)
Glycemic values	29 (69.0)
Consultation scheduling	32 (76.2)
Guidance for medication use	13 (30.9)

Variables	Literacy level
Variables	Inadequate n(%)	Adequate n(%)	p-value*
Sex
Male	14(87.5)	2(12.5)	0.688
Female	20(76.9)	6(23.1)
Age
23 - 40 years of age	13(76.5)	4(23.5)	0.787
41 - 59 years of age	12(80.0)	3(20.0)
60 years of age or older	9(90.0)	1(10.0)
Marital status
Married	22(95.7)	1(4.3)	0.018
Single	9(64.3)	5(35.7)
Widowed	1(100.0)	0(0.0)
Separated / divorced	2(50.0)	2(50.0)
Family arrangement
Lives alone	1(50.0)	1(50.0)
Lives with spouse only	7(100.0)	0(0.0)	0.162
Lives with spouse and family members	11(91.7)	1(8.3)
Family members	15(71.4)	6(28.6)
Formal education
Less than 4 years	2(100.0)	0(0.0)
4 - 7 years	10(100.0)	0(0.0)	0.113
8 - 10 years	9(90.0)	1(10.0)
11 years or more	13(65.0)	7(35.0)
Personal income
R$880	27(93.1)	2(6.9)	0.009
R$1,760	1(33.3)	2(66.7)
More than R$1,760	1(50.0)	1(50.0)
No income	5(62.5)	3(37.5)
Family income
Less than R$880	1(100.0)	0(0.0)	0.684
R$880	12(92.3)	1(7.7)
R$1,760	14(82.4)	3(17.6)
More than R$1,760	6(75.0)	2(25.0)
Social security situation
Retired	8(80.0)	2(20.0)	0.525
Illness-benefit	19(86.4)	3(13.6)
None	7(70.0)	3(30.0)

Variables	Literacy Level
Variables	Inadequate n(%)	Adequate n(%)	p-value*
Dialysis modality
Haemodialysis	23(76.7)	7(23.3)	0.402
Diálise peritoneal	11(91.7)	1(8.3)
Underlying disease
Hypertension	10(76.9)	3(23.1)	0.384
Diabetes	0(0.0)	1(100.0)
Hypertension and diabetes	2(100.0)	0(0.0)
Systemic lupus erythematosus	5(71.4)	2(28.6)
Glomerulonephritis	3(100.0)	0(0.0)
Others	14(87.5)	2(12.5)
Comorbidities
Hypertension	29(78.4)	8(21.6)	0.405
Diabetes	4(66.7)	2(33.3)
Cardiovascular	4(66.7)	2(33.3)
Dyslipidemia	3(60.0)	2(40.0)
Ophthalmologic	2(50.0)	2(50.0)
Autoimmune	1(33.4)	2(66.6)

Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Programa de Pós Graduação em Enfermagem Campus Universitário Trindade, 88040-970 Florianópolis - Santa Catarina - Brasil, Tel.: (55 48) 3721-4915 / (55 48) 3721-9043 - Florianópolis - SC - Brazil
E-mail: textoecontexto@contato.ufsc.br

Acompanhe os números deste periódico no seu leitor de RSS

[1] CORRESPONDENCE AUTHOR Jéssica Naylla de Melo Bezerra jessicanaylla.melo@gmail.com