Health Literacy and its Related Factors in Dialysis Patients: A Cross-sectional Study in Iran

Background: Inadequate health literacy (HL) in dialysis patients increases the risk of poor self-care and decreases severe self-care and severe negative health outcomes in these patients. This study aimed to investigate HL and its related factors in dialysis patients in Kerman, Iran, in ۲۰۲۱.Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on ۲۸۰ dialysis patients who referred to Kerman (Iran) dialysis centres. The participants were selected through multi-stage sampling method. The study was conducted using the Iranian Health Literacy Questionnaire (IHLQ). The higher score shows a better HL.Results: The mean age of the subjects was ۵۷.۷۵ ± ۱۳.۸۷ years. The mean score of HL was ۹.۱۲ ± ۴.۵۴ out of ۲۰ points. During multivariate regression, there was a significant relationship between HL and age (β = -۰.۰۸, P = ۰.۰۲) and level of education (elementary/literacy (β = ۴.۶۰۷, P < ۰.۰۰۱), middle school (β = ۶.۳۸, P < ۰.۰۰۱), high school (β = ۸.۵۷۳, P < ۰.۰۰۱) and academic education (β = ۹.۴۱۰, P < ۰.۰۰۱), and there was a significant relationship between HL and eye disease (β = -۰.۹۰۳, P = ۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion: Most participants did not have adequate HL, while HL as the most important determinant of self-care can improve patients’ quality of life and reduce their health care costs. Therefore, in order to increase self-care, planning and necessary interventions, the HL of these patients seems to be necessary

Keywords:

Health literacy , Dialysis , Chronic kidney disease , End Stage Renal Disease