Improving Patient Health Literacy in Hospitals - A Challenge for Hospital Health Education Programs

Area of Science:

• Health Literacy Research
• Patient Education
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Patient health literacy is crucial, especially during health crises.
• Hospitals should integrate health literacy development into patient care.
• Current hospital practices often overlook patients' potential to gain health literacy during treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the health literacy levels of patients awaiting hospitalization.
• To identify factors influencing patient health literacy.
• To explore the relationship between health literacy and patient understanding of treatment and self-care.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 406 patients at a regional teaching hospital's pre-admission testing center.
• Purposive sampling and self-administered questionnaires were utilized.

Main Results:

• 36.1% of patients demonstrated adequate health literacy.
• Health literacy was associated with age, education, and chronic disease history.
• Lower ability to find and judge health information was observed; however, watching health TV programs correlated positively with health literacy.
• Adequate health literacy, health promotion literacy, and information understanding were linked to better self-care and management.
• 65.8% of patients did not understand their admission treatment, but higher health literacy, especially the ability to judge health information, improved treatment comprehension.

Conclusions:

• Health literacy significantly enhances patient self-care, management, and understanding of medical treatments.
• Standardized health education programs are insufficient; personalized approaches are needed.
• Engaging patients through entertainment-based health information and simplified materials can facilitate behavior change and improve health outcomes.