Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-6694
Authors: Kaps, Leonard
Hildebrand, Katharina
Nagel, Michael
Michel, Maurice
Kremer, Wolfgang Maximilian
Hilscher, Max
Galle, Peter R.
Schattenberg, Jörn M.
Wörns, Marcus-Alexander
Labenz, Christian
Title: Risk factors for poorer health literacy in patients with liver cirrhosis
Online publication date: 14-Jan-2022
Year of first publication: 2021
Language: english
Abstract: BACKGROUND Health literacy is a concept that refers to patients' ability to manage their disease and the health system's ability to guarantee access to services. There is evidence that health literacy impacts the health outcomes of patients with chronic diseases, but detailed information on this topic in patients with liver cirrhosis is scarce. It was the aim of this study to identify risk factors for poorer health literacy in patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODS 89 patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled in this study and health literacy was measured using the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ). Covert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE) was diagnosed clinically according to the West-Haven Criteria (HE grade 1) and the PHES (minimal HE). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Based on the nine subscales of the HLQ, risk factors for poor health literacy were identified using linear regression models. RESULTS Normalized HLQ scores ranged between 65-76%, while appraisal of health information had lowest score (65%) and ability to actively engage with healthcare providers had highest score (76%). Multivariable regression analyses revealed an association of poorer health literacy and liver function as determined by MELD score and complications of liver cirrhosis such as a history of ascites or CHE. Additionally, we identified modifiable or preventable factors such as depressive symptoms, a history of falls, and active smoking as risk factors for poorer health literacy. CONCLUSION Multiple factors seem to impact on health literacy in patients with liver cirrhosis. Addressing modifiable and preventable factors may improve health literacy.
DDC: 610 Medizin
610 Medical sciences
Institution: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Department: FB 04 Medizin
Place: Mainz
ROR: https://ror.org/023b0x485
DOI: http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-6694
Version: Published version
Publication type: Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Document type specification: Scientific article
License: CC BY
Information on rights of use: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Journal: PLOS ONE
16
7
Pages or article number: e0255349
Publisher: PLOS
Publisher place: San Francisco, California, US
Issue date: 2021
ISSN: 1932-6203
Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255349
Publisher DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255349
Appears in collections:JGU-Publikationen

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