Analysis of Potential Profiles of Health Literacy in Chronic Heart Failure Patients

This study aimed to explore health literacy profiles in patients with heart failure and identify heterogeneous subgroups within the chronic heart failure population. Through investigating the health literacy of heart failure patients, we analyzed the factors influencing patients' health literacy levels, aiming to provide evidence-based guidance for improving health literacy in this patient population.

This study used a cross-sectional design. A total of 220 patients with chronic heart failure hospitalized at a tertiary hospital in Shanxi Province were recruited via convenience sampling between January and June 2024. Participants were assessed using a general characteristics questionnaire, the Chinese Version of the Heart Failure Health Literacy Scale, and the Heart Failure Self-Care Behavior Scale. Data analysis included multinomial ordered logistic regression to identify factors influencing health literacy and latent profile analysis to explore potential classes of health literacy among the patients.

The health literacy profiles were categorized into 3 potential profiles, including the low health literacy-resource-limited group (7.7%), the medium health literacy-communication barriers group (55.5%), and the high health literacy-high decision-making ability group (36.8%). The results of multicategorical ordered regression analysis showed that occupation, literacy, per capita monthly household income, type of health insurance, and self-care ability were the influential factors in potential profile categories of health literacy in heart failure patients (p < .05).

Chronic heart failure patients have variable health literacy, with better self-care behaviors associated with higher health literacy.