Medication literacy among patients with chronic diseases in long-term care facilities: a latent profile analysis

This study aims to examine the potential medication literacy profiles of patients with chronic diseases in long-term care facilities and to analyze the influencing factors, thereby providing a basis for developing targeted intervention programs.

This study conducted a cross-sectional study among 403 older patients with chronic diseases in 41 long-term care facilities in Nanchong City, China, from January to April 2025. Latent profile analysis was conducted using the 23 items of the older adults chronic disease medication literacy scale as manifest variables, followed by multinomial logistic regression to analyze the influencing factors.

Three distinct medication literacy profiles were identified: high medication literacy with active communication and interaction (30.3%), moderate medication literacy with passive dependence (47.4%), and low medication literacy with limited information acquisition (22.3%). Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that educational level, pension status, frequency of health checkups, staff attention, self-assessment of medication effectiveness, perceived social support, and self-efficacy for appropriate medication use significantly influenced the medication literacy categories.

The overall medication literacy of patients with chronic diseases in long-term care facilities is above average; however, significant individual differences remain. Clinical staff and institutional caregivers should develop and implement targeted interventions based on influencing factors to enhance medication literacy.