Health Literacy: The Reality of a Community in Alto Minho

Abstract

Background: Limited health literacy makes decision-making difficult and has implications for individual health, costs, and the organization of health systems in general, and therefore must be studied in different communities, allowing an adequate response to the specificities, particularities, and potentialities of each local situation. Methods: To evaluate the level of health literacy and relate it to sociodemographic variables (sex, age group, education, and employment situation), this study was carried out in a population of 3,927 individuals from a parish of Alto Minho with a random probabilistic sample of 351 individuals, stratified by age and sex, with a sampling error of 5%. This is a quantitative, observational, and cross-sectional study. Results: The majority of respondents were female (54.1%), with a mean age (±SD) of 44.94 ± 19.048 years, had higher education qualifications (74.0%), and were professionally active (61.0%). The health literacy of this community is limited (66.1%) in its different domains. In all of them, individuals assume easy and very easy activities that do not involve critical analysis and interpretation, and reveal greater difficulty in those that require this ability. Statistically significant relationships were found between the level of health literacy and schooling (χ² = 33.552 and p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: This study allowed us to recognize that the health literacy level of this Alto Minho community is limited. Also, the fact that it is related to certain sociodemographic variables sheds light on the health literacy level of the people of this community and on the challenges of promoting it.

Nursing Practices and Sensitive Outcomes Related to Peripheral Intravenous Catheterization in Portugal

“…Twelve studies focused on nurses as the study population, particularly on their practices and knowledge about peripheral intravenous catheterization 12,13,15,18,22,26–30,33,35. Thirteen studies characterized the nursing teams, with high sociodemographic, academic, and professional representativeness 12–15,22,26–29,33,35–37. The sample size in the included studies ranged from 1815 to 92 nurses 14.…”

“…Some studies identified specific practices regarding tourniquet use during PIVC insertion 12,14,18,34,35–37. Salgueiro-Oliveira et al35 observed that nurses used elastic tourniquets or latex gloves and that tourniquets sometimes remained in nurses' uniform pockets and were used between patients without prior decontamination.…”

“…Six studies briefly mentioned the structural and/or functional characteristics of the targeted units, namely in terms of their capacity,6,14,17,19,26,34 number of nurses per shift or care organization method,6,14,26 nurses' contractual relationship with the institution,6 techniques for locating and selecting peripheral veins,34 or available equipment and technologies 14,17,34. One study reported the average length of hospital stay in the units under analysis 14. One study also reported the number of members of the medical team of the unit under study 26…”

“…18,37 Concerning patient involvement, some authors identified the recurrent omission of patient education about the procedure, its clinical indication, specific care, and signs/symptoms of associated complications. 12,14,26,33,35 Salgueiro-Oliveira et al 35 found that little or no information was given to patients in need of peripheral intravenous catheterization, regardless of their state of consciousness. The authors observed that interaction with the patient was limited to identifying puncture sites or asking about local pain when administering intravenous therapy.…”

“…Nine studies focused on hand hygiene compliance before, during, and after caring for patients in need of peripheral intravenous catheterization. [12][13][14][15]18,21,23,26,27,33,35 The reporting of hand hygiene compliance rates was not consistent, with some authors reporting total scores 14,15,21,23,26,27 (16.7%-96.3%) and others specific rates for each recommended moment during insertion and maintenance. 12,13,18,33 Oliveira et al 33 found hand hygiene compliance rates of 18.4% to 84.2% at the recommended times during PIVC insertion and more favorable rates during PIVC maintenance (75.3%-100%).…”