Relationships Between Health Literacy and Heart Failure Knowledge, Self-efficacy, and Self-care Adherence

Authors

Aleda M.H. Chen, Cedarville UniversityFollow
Karen S. Yehle
Nancy M. Albert
Kenneth F. Ferraro
Holly L. Mason
Matthew M. Murawski
Kimberly S. Plake

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-2014

Journal Title

Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy

ISSN

1934-8150

Volume

10

Issue

2

First Page

378

Last Page

386

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2013.07.001

PubMed ID

23953756

PubMed Central® ID

PMC3923851

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It has been argued that only 12% of adults have the necessary health literacy to manage their health care effectively, which can lead to difficulties in self-care activities, such as medication adherence. Prior research suggests that health literacy may influence knowledge, self-efficacy and self-care, but this has not been fully examined.

OBJECTIVE: To test a model to explain the relationships between health literacy, heart failure knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-care.

METHODS: Prior to receiving clinic-based education, newly referred patients to 3 heart failure clinics completed assessments of health literacy, heart failure knowledge, self-efficacy, self-care, and demographics. Structural equation modeling was completed to examine the strength of the inter-variable relationships.

RESULTS: Of 81 participants recruited, data from 63 patients were complete. Health literacy was independently associated with knowledge (P < 0.001). Health literacy was not related to self-care. Self-efficacy was independently-associated with self-care adherence (P = 0.016). No other relationships were statistically significant. The model had good fit (comparative fit index = 1.000) and explained 33.6% of the variance in knowledge and 27.6% in self-care.

CONCLUSIONS: Health literacy influences knowledge about heart failure but not self-care adherence. Instead, self-efficacy influenced self-care adherence. Future research should incorporate additional factors that may better model the relationships between health literacy, knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-care.

Keywords

Health literacy, heart failure, heart failure knowledge, self-care, self-efficacy, aged, educational status, female, health knowledge, attitudes, practice, humans, male, middle aged, models, theoretical, patient compliance

Recommended Citation

Chen, Aleda M.H.; Yehle, Karen S.; Albert, Nancy M.; Ferraro, Kenneth F.; Mason, Holly L.; Murawski, Matthew M.; and Plake, Kimberly S., "Relationships Between Health Literacy and Heart Failure Knowledge, Self-efficacy, and Self-care Adherence" (2014). Pharmacy Practice Faculty Publications. 107.
https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/pharmacy_practice_publications/107