Health Literacy in Patients With Myasthenia Gravis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Public Health
• Health Literacy Research

Background:

• Health literacy (HL) is crucial for chronic disease self-management but is understudied in rare diseases like myasthenia gravis (MG).
• Understanding HL in MG patients is essential for improving patient outcomes and care strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess general HL levels and specific HL domains in adults with MG.
• To investigate associations between HL and sociodemographic, clinical, and organizational factors in MG patients.

Main Methods:

• A multicentre, observational, cross-sectional study involving 113 adult MG patients across 22 Italian neurology centers.
• Data collected on HL using the HLS19-Q12, sociodemographic, clinical factors, and Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS).
• Non-parametric tests and multivariable linear models were used for statistical analysis.

Main Results:

• Median HLS19-Q12 score indicated problematic HL among participants.
• Higher education correlated with lower appraisal competence.
• Not meeting PASS was linked to lower HL across multiple domains; specialized nursing support in centers improved HL scores in access, understanding, application, healthcare, and health promotion.

Conclusions:

• Problematic HL is prevalent in MG patients, particularly those with higher symptom burden.
• Centers lacking specialized nursing support require targeted HL interventions and organizational improvements.
• HL-oriented interventions and redesigned care pathways are recommended for symptom-burdened MG patients and underserved centers.