Health literacy and adherence to treatment of patients with heart failure

• Main Authors: Monica Isabelle Lopes Oscalices (Author), Meiry Fernanda Pinto Okuno (Author), Maria Carolina Barbosa Teixeira Lopes (Author), Ruth Ester Assayag Batista (Author), Cassia Regina Vancini Campanharo (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: SciELO.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 1980-220X; 10.1590/s1980-220x2017039803447
• Keywords: Alfabetización en Salud; Educación en Salud; Insuficiencia Cardíaca; Cumplimiento y Adherencia al Tratamiento; Enfermería de Urgencia; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Nursing; RT1-120; Mental healing; RZ400-408; Education (General); L7-991
• Source: Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP, Vol 53

ABSTRACT Objective: To relate the level of functional health literacy with adherence and barriers to non-adherence, rehospitalization, readmission and death in patients with heart failure. Method: A cross-sectional, analytical study with patients admitted to the emergency room with a diagnosis of heart failure. Literacy was assessed by the Newest Vital Sign. Patient adherence to medication treatment and barriers to non-compliance were assessed 90 days after discharge by the Morisky-Green test and the Brief Medical Questionnaire, respectively. Results: 100 patients participated in the study. The mean age was 63.3 years (± 15.2), with a predominance of white women. Medication adherence was low in 41.1% of participants, of which 55.9% presented inadequate literacy. Re-hospitalization and death were present in patients with inadequate literacy (p<0.001). Conclusion: The low level of literacy was directly related to lower adherence and the presence of barriers to medication adherence, as well as higher rehospitalization rates and death.