Health literacy of patients admitted for elective surgery

Abstract

AimPatients with limited health literacy have poorer surgical outcomes. However, current studies assessing the prevalence of limited health literacy in patients expecting surgery are small scale. We aimed to provide insight into the health literacy level of patients undergoing planned surgery.Subject and MethodsPatients aged ≥18 years visiting the preoperative screening department were approached in the waiting area and invited to participate in a brief interview including the Functional Communicative Critical Health Literacy (FCCHL).ResultsIn total, 225 patients (84.9% response) were studied. Based on the FCCHL, 37.3% of the patients were classified as having limited health literacy. The mean score in the critical domain (2.7 ± 0.9) was lower than scores in the functional (3.3 ± 0.6) and communicative (3.3 ± 0.6) domains.ConclusionMore than one third of the patients admitted to the hospital for surgery had limited health literacy. Healthcare professionals should be aware of the different health literacy levels and tailor their information provision strategies accordingly.

Health Literacy in Surgery

“…The number of health literacy studies in surgery patient populations has increased over time from January 2002 until May 2018 ( Figure 2). The 51 health literacy studies included data from 22,139 patients (Alokozai et al, 2017;Beitler et al, 2010;Cajita et al, 2017;Cayci et al, 2018;Chew, Bradley, Flum, Cornia, & Koepsell, 2004;Choi, 2011;Chu & Tseng, 2013;Conlin & Schumann, 2002;Dageforde, Box, Feurer, & Cavanaugh, 2015;Dageforde et al, 2014;Escobedo & Weismuller, 2013;Garcia-Marcinkiewicz, Long, Danielson, & Rose, 2014;Gordon & Wolf, 2009;Grubbs, Gregorich, Per-ez-Stable, & Hsu, 2009;Halbach et al, 2016;Halleberg Nyman, Nilsson, Dahlberg, & Jaensson, 2018;Hallock, Rios, & Handa, 2017;Huang et al, 2018;Izard et al, 2014;Jones et al, 2016;Kazley, Hund, Simpson, Chavin, & Baliga, 2015;Kazley et al, 2014;Keim-Malpass, Doede, Camacho, Kennedy, & Showalter, 2018;Khan, Fjeraek, Andreasen, Thorup, & Dinesen, 2018;Komenaka et al, 2014;Koster, Schmidt, Philbert, van de Garde, & Bouvy, 2017;Lambert, Mullan, Mansfield, & Lonergan, 2015;Mahoney, Tawfik-Sexton, Strassle, Farrell, & Duke, 2018;Menendez et al, 2017;Mercieca-Bebber et al, 2017;Miller-Matero, Hyde-Nolan, Eshelman, & Abouljoud, 2015;Parekh e...…”

“…The median number of patients in health literacy studies was 153 (IQR, 94-364) (Roh et al, 2018;Rosenbaum et al, 2015;Tung et al, 2014;Wallace et al, 2007;Wallace et al, 2009). Of the studies that provided health literacy measurements, the prevalence of low health literacy affected more than one-third of surgical patients (34%; IQR, 16%-50%) (Alokozai et al, 2017;Beitler et al, 2010;Cajita et al, 2017;Cayci et al, 2018;Chew, Bradley, Flum et al 2004;Choi, 2011;Chu & Tseng, 2013;Conlin & Schumann, 2002;Dageforde et al, 2015;Dageforde et al, 2014;Escobedo & Weismuller, 2013;Garcia-Marcinkiewicz et al, 2014;Gordon & Wolf, 2009;Grubbs et al, 2009;Halbach et al, 2016;Halleberg Nyman et al, 2018;Hallock et al, 2017;Izard et al, 2014;Jones et al, 2016;Keim-Malpass et al, 2018;Komenaka et al, 2014;Koster et al, 2017;Mahoney et al, 2018;Menendez et al, 2016;Menendez et al, 2017;Miller-Matero et al, 2015;Patzer et al, 2016;Roh et al, 2018;Rosenbaum et al, 2015;Scarpato et al, 2016;Serper et al, 2015;Tang et al, 2017;Taylor et al, 2016;…”

<p>Testing Measurement Properties of the Norwegian Version of Electronic Health Literacy Scale (eHEALS) in a Group of Day Surgery Patients</p>

“…Further, the concept is commonly described to include functional, communicative, and critical skills. [9][10][11][12][13] Thus, a more rudimentary definition of "literacy", as the ability to read and write, has been expanded to include other skills like social functioning and ability to understand and solve problems. 13 Functional skills are necessary for reading and writing in order to operate in everyday situations, communicative skills are more advanced skills to extract and apply (new) information in different situations, and critical skills are needed for analyzing and reflecting on information or advice.…”

“…13 Functional skills are necessary for reading and writing in order to operate in everyday situations, communicative skills are more advanced skills to extract and apply (new) information in different situations, and critical skills are needed for analyzing and reflecting on information or advice. 9 Health literacy includes the ability to comprehend information for managing one's own health. 14 Internet and communication technologies, including web-based education and information programs, have provided us with a wide range of possibilities that can be particularly useful for day surgery patients.…”

Association Between Functional Health Literacy and Postoperative Recovery, Health Care Contacts, and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Patients Undergoing Day Surgery

“…Consequently, they have to be able to read and understand health instructions on how to manage their own recovery at home. 4 Functional health literacy (FHL) is defined as an individual's capacity to gain access to, and to understand and use, information in ways to promote and maintain good health. 5 Several studies have raised awareness of health literacy and its consequences for the individual as well as for aspects of health economy.…”