Preferences Regarding Self-Management Intervention Outcomes of Dutch Chronically Ill Patients With Limited Health Literacy

Abstract

Background:For many chronically ill patients self-management of their disease is difficult. This may be especially true for people with limited health literacy as they are faced with additional challenges in the day-to-day management of their disease. Research has shown that self-management support is most effective when tailored to the needs and preferences of patients. Therefore, this study explores the preferences regarding self-management outcomes of chronically ill patients with limited health literacy.MethodsA total of 35 patients with limited health literacy were invited to a concept-mapping procedure consisting of two card sorting tasks. Patients ranked 60 outcomes, which are often found in literature in relation to self-management, to the level that was important for themselves. Means were calculated for each outcome and domain, and differences within the group were analyzed.ResultsFor patients with limited health literacy, satisfaction with care is the most important outcome domain. This domain includes overall satisfaction, the communication with health care providers, the provision of information and trust. At an outcome level, outcomes related to symptom management and improving competences to self-management scored very high. No differences between patient groups for age and sex were found.ConclusionChronically ill patients with limited health literacy prefer a wide variety of outcomes for their self-management. Next to health related outcomes, patients mostly prefer to work on their competences for self-management. For health care professionals, acting on these patient preferences and building a solid relationship will enhance successful self-management.

Contextual factors for the successful implementation of self-management interventions for chronic diseases: A qualitative review of reviews

“…13,23,81 For example, a recent study found that acting on the preferences of chronically ill patients with limited health literacy and building a solid relationship will enhance successful self-management. 82 However, the effect of tailored implementation is variable and tends to be small to moderate. 81,83 An important issue raised previously is how to prioritize CFs and tailored interventions, as well as to explore the actual tailoring of SMIs in practice.…”

Associations of Mental Health Issues with Health Literacy and Vaccination Readiness against COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities—A Cross-Sectional Analysis

“…It encompasses various determinants of health, including environmental, organizational, social and political [ 3 ]. For chronically ill individuals and people in need of care in particular, communication with healthcare workers (HCWs), the provision of health-related information and trust are necessary to increase health literacy [ 4 ]. Adequate health literacy is a basic requirement for obtaining and translating health-related information and has been shown to have a direct effect on health behaviors, including vaccinations [ 3 , 4 ].…”

“…For chronically ill individuals and people in need of care in particular, communication with healthcare workers (HCWs), the provision of health-related information and trust are necessary to increase health literacy [ 4 ]. Adequate health literacy is a basic requirement for obtaining and translating health-related information and has been shown to have a direct effect on health behaviors, including vaccinations [ 3 , 4 ]. Due to social restrictions during the pandemic, HCWs were in many cases the only personal contacts for people in need of care, as well as their only source of information [ 5 ].…”