Assessment of Health Literacy Among Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

Abstract

Background: levels of literacy have a direct impact on the ability to act on health information and take greater control of the health as persons, families, and communities.Hemodialysis patients with low health literacy are at increased risk for altered selfmaintenance and negative health outcomes. Aim: To assess health literacy among patients undergoing hemodialysis. Subject and method: Design: A descriptive design was utilized in this study. Subject: The study data were collected from all available adult patients undergoing hemodialysis (105 patients) in 9 months. Setting: the study was conducted in hemodialysis unit at El-Salam Hospital. Tools: Tool I: structure interview questionnaire. Tool II: Health literacy questionnaire. Results: 54.3% of them suffered from nausea during the hemodialysis session. The mean score ±SD of total health literacy of studied patients was high. There was a statistically significant relationship between the Patients' marital status and their total health literacy. While there was a statistically significant relation between the level of education of the studied patients and their total health literacy. Conclusion: There was a relatively high level of mean health literacy among patients undergoing hemodialysis especially inpatient safety literacy while the mean score of advanced health knowledge was low. There was a statistically significant relationship between the marital status and education level of the patients and their total health literacy. Recommendations: Providing ongoing in-service education for patients undergoing hemodialysis to update their health literacy related to their chronic disease.Provide more research on nursing care for patients undergoing hemodialysis.