Health literacy and adherence to treatment of patients with heart failure

• Published in: Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S P Vol. 53; p. e03447
• Main Authors: Oscalices, Monica Isabelle Lopes, Okuno, Meiry Fernanda Pinto, Lopes, Maria Carolina Barbosa Teixeira, Batista, Ruth Ester Assayag, Campanharo, Cassia Regina Vancini
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Enfermagem 01.01.2019; SciELO
• Subjects: Aged; Alfabetización en Salud; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cumplimiento y Adherencia al Tratamiento; Educación en Salud; Emergency Service, Hospital; Enfermería de Urgencia; Female; Health Literacy; Heart Failure - drug therapy; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Insuficiencia Cardíaca; Male; Medication Adherence - statistics & numerical data; Middle Aged; NURSING; Patient Readmission - statistics & numerical data; Surveys and Questionnaires; Health Literacy; Cumplimiento y Adherencia al Tratamiento; Enfermería de Urgencia; Alfabetização em Saúde; Cooperação e Adesão do Paciente; Emergency Nursing; Educación en Salud; Insuficiencia Cardíaca; Insuficiência Cardíaca; Enfermagem em Emergência; Educação em Saúde; Treatment Adherence and Compliance; Health Education; Alfabetización en Salud
• ISSN: 0080-6234; 1980-220X; 1980-220X
• DOI: 10.1590/S1980-220X2017039803447

To relate the level of functional health literacy with adherence and barriers to non-adherence, rehospitalization, readmission and death in patients with heart failure. A cross-sectional, analytical study with patients admitted to the emergency room with a diagnosis of heart failure. Literacy was assessed by the Newest Vital Sign. Patient adherence to medication treatment and barriers to non-compliance were assessed 90 days after discharge by the Morisky-Green test and the Brief Medical Questionnaire, respectively. 100 patients participated in the study. The mean age was 63.3 years (± 15.2), with a predominance of white women. Medication adherence was low in 41.1% of participants, of which 55.9% presented inadequate literacy. Re-hospitalization and death were present in patients with inadequate literacy (p<0.001). The low level of literacy was directly related to lower adherence and the presence of barriers to medication adherence, as well as higher rehospitalization rates and death.