The Relationship Between Health Literacy and Treatment Adherence in Cardiovascular Patients Hospitalized in Khorramabad Educational Hospitals

Insufficient health literacy and incomplete information related to disease management can affect the adherence to treatment regimens. This study was performed to determine the relationship between health literacy and treatment regimen adherence in patients with CVD hospitalized in the educational hospitals of Khorramabad City in ۲۰۱۷. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, ۱۶۱ CVD patients hospitalized in two educational hospitals in Khorramabad City were selected through a non-probabilistic sampling method to participate in the study. Data collection instruments included a sociodemographic information form, health literacy questionnaire, and treatment regimen adherence questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients were used for the data analysis. The health literacy of ۷۵.۲% of the cases was borderline or average. In addition, ۶۸.۹% of the patients adhered to the treatment regimen at an average level. There was a significant positive relationship between the total health literacy score and the total score of treatment regimen adherence (p<۰.۰۰۰, r=۰.۷۴). In this study, those with higher health literacy also showed greater adherence to the treatment regimen. Thus, promoting health literacy can be an effective tool for enhancing treatment regimen adherence.

Keywords:

Cardiovascular disease , Health literacy , treatment regimen adherence