Interactive Health Literacy and Symptom Self-management in Patients With Lung Cancer: A Critical Realist Analysis

Patients with lung cancer experience multiple symptoms requiring self-management. Little is known about how self-management is influenced by interactive health literacy, defined as communicating with healthcare providers to obtain and process information.

This study explored how interactive health literacy relates to symptom self-management among patients with lung cancer. A second aim explored how interactive health literacy might be integrated into the Individual and Family Self-management Theory.

This study used a cross-sectional mixed-methods design. Quantitative data included demographics, the All Aspects of Health Literacy Scale, and the Memorial Symptom Assessment-Short Form. Qualitative data were collected using semistructured interviews. Data analysis followed a critical realist model.

Twelve adults who recently received treatment for lung cancer reported an average of 14 symptoms that caused moderate distress. Average interactive health literacy of the sample was in the moderate range. Participants' experiences of self-management differed based on their interactive health literacy. A generative mechanism proposes that those with higher interactive health literacy who accessed online information used this information as a basis for engaging with providers regarding potential symptom self-management strategies.

Interactive health literacy skills may play a role in patients' ability and confidence in symptom self-management through interactions with oncology providers. Further research should clarify the relationship between interactive health literacy, self-efficacy, and collaboration with oncology providers.

The patient-provider relationship is a key factor influencing how patients obtain and process symptom self-management information. Oncology providers should implement patient-centered strategies to engage patients in symptom self-management.