The Role of Health Literacy among Outpatient Caregivers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Health literacy became an important competence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite outpatient caregivers being a particularly vulnerable occupational group, their health literacy has hardly been examined yet, especially during the pandemic. Hence, this study aimed to explore this field and provide first empirical insights. Data were collected based on a cross-sectional online survey among 155 outpatient caregivers. In particular, health literacy (HLS-EU-Q16), diet and physical activity, pandemic-related worries, perceived information sufficiency and stress perception were examined. Descriptive and ordinal logistic regression analyses were run to test explorative assumptions. The majority of outpatient caregivers reported high values of health literacy (69% on a sufficient level). Although no significant associations between health literacy and health behaviours or perceived information sufficiency were found, perceived information sufficiency and perceived stress (OR = 3.194; 95% CI: 1.542–6.614), and pandemic-related worries (OR = 3.073; 95% CI: 1.471–6.421; OR = 4.243; 95% CI: 2.027–8.884) seem to be related. Therefore, dissemination of reliable information and resource-building measures to reduce worries may be important parameters for improving outpatient caregivers’ health. Our results provide first explorative insights, representing a starting point for further research. Considering outpatient caregivers’ mobile work setting, they need to be provided with adequate equipment and comprehensible information to ensure physically and mentally healthy working conditions.

Workplace Health Promotion and COVID-19 Support Measures in Outpatient Care Services in Germany: A Quantitative Study

“…Furthermore, a study of German semi-residential and outpatient care facilities reported higher absenteeism among caregivers due to sickness or quarantine, such that 40 min on average of extra work per shift had to be compensated for by healthy colleagues as compared with before the pandemic [59], which resulted from the increased psychosocial burden that healthcare professionals were exposed to [60]. Accordingly, advice and information on awareness, such as newsletters and training courses, are equally important support measures, as Rohwer et al [61] demonstrated a link between perceived information sufficiency and pandemic-related worries and perceived stress. This also explains why the study participants in our survey mentioned responses such as "discussions with line managers" or "good teamwork" as support measures, although these are not measures in the true sense of the word.…”

Coronavirus-19 phobia and health literacy in adults: A descriptive-correlational study

“…In this study, it was found that there was a significant relationship between the level of fear of COVID-19 and health literacy, and a high level of health literacy was associated with a low level of fear of COVID-19 [30]. In a study by Rohwer et al (2021) with caregivers during the COVID-19 process in Germany, it was reported that the perceived stress during the COVID-19 process and the anxiety associated with COVID-19 was associated with the level of health literacy [31]. This research shows that individuals' access to information, their level of understanding, and evaluation of information are effective on coronavirus phobia.…”

Understanding COVID: Collaborative Government Campaign for Citizen Digital Health Literacy in the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…One of the main challenges of the strategy was to reach as many vulnerable people of different ages as possible, as has been done in similar studies and interventions [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ], but at the same time minimizing the technological gap that could leave someone behind, which is a common problem when trying to reach a vulnerable population using information technologies [ 9 , 26 , 27 ]. To do this, everyday technology tools already existing in homes, such as tablets and smartphones, were used, with no need for additional installation of complex programs.…”