A qualitative study on medication literacy among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

ObjectiveGuided by the medication literacy conceptual model, this study represents an interpretive exploration of medication literacy among patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) to provide evidence for strategies aimed at improving medication adherence.MethodsUsing purposive sampling, 18 patients were recruited from the respiratory department and outpatient clinics of a tertiary general hospital in Shanxi Province between March and July 2025. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analyzed using directed content analysis method.ResultsThe analysis yielded four primary themes: functional, communicative, and critical medication literacy, as well as medication numeracy. These findings indicate that medication literacy in COPD patients is influenced by multidimensional factors, highlighting the complex challenges and subjective barriers in both cognitive and behavioral domains.ConclusionThese findings suggest that future interventions could prioritize patient-centered, personalized nursing interventions tailored to these specific literacy deficits-particularly in numeracy and critical processing-to effectively enhance treatment adherence and quality of life for COPD patients.