The relationship between health literacy and self-care in patients with heart failure

Background/Aims: Research has shown that health literacy can influence an individual's ability to practise self-care, particularly for patients with heart failure. This study aimed to assess health literacy and its relationship with heart failure knowledge and self-care practices in this patient group.

Methods: An observational sub-study was conducted with the data from a large randomised control trial that evaluated the relationship between patients' health literacy, general literacy, knowledge of heart failure and self-care.

Results: A total of 36 participants were recruited, of which 33 (89.9%) had adequate levels of health literacy. Health literacy was positively associated with heart failure knowledge. However, 67.7% of participants with adequate health literacy were found to have inadequate levels of self-care management.

Conclusions: Health literacy may facilitate better heart failure knowledge, but it does not necessarily lead to improved self-care management in patients with heart failure. This suggest that clinicians need to put more emphasis on translating knowledge into behavioural changes for self-care in this patient group.