The Relationship Between Health Literacy and Patient Participation in Medical Decision Making Among Breast Cancer Patients

Background: Patient participation in medical decisions is essential and requiressufficient knowledge and awareness. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigatethe relationship between health literacy and the participation of breast cancerpatients in their medical decisions in Shiraz, Iran. Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical study conducted on ۱۹۶ womenwith breast cancer in ۲۰۱۶-۲۰۱۷. Data were collected using the standardized HealthLiteracy for Iranian Adults (HELIA) and the Decisional Conflict Scale. The datawere analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential methods (t test, Pearsoncorrelation, ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis) on SPSS ۲۱. Results: The mean age of participants was ۴۶.۷ years. Their health literacy wasinadequate (۱۸.۷) and their decisional conflict was average (۵۱.۷۹). There was alsoan inverse and significant relationship between health literacy and decisionalconflict (P < ۰.۰۰۱, r = -۰.۸۱) Conclusion: Increasing health literacy could reduce decisional conflict. Itrequires training individuals be able to access credible and reliable sources ofinformation. This training can be provided through doctors, treatment staff, andpublic and social media.

Keywords:

Health literacy , Patient participation , Breast cancer