Association Between Health Literacy and Medication Adherence Among Hispanics with Hypertension

Abstract

Background: Poor adherence to prescribed antihypertensive medication is a major contributor to disparities in effective blood pressure control among Hispanics. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between health literacy level and adherence to antihypertensive medications among Hispanic adults, who self-reported hypertension, controlling for potential covariates of adherence and/or health literacy. Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1,355 Hispanic adults, primarily Dominicans, who self-reported hypertension. Antihypertensive medication adherence and health literacy were evaluated along with covariates including sociodemographic characteristics, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance. Linear regression models were created for health literacy, each covariate, and adherence. Factors found to be significantly associated with adherence in the individual regression models at a p-value of <0.20 were included in a hierarchical multiple linear regression model. Results:Overall, the majority of participants had low adherence levels to antihypertensive medications (88.4%; n=1,026) and inadequate health literacy (84.9%; n=1,151). When controlling for age, sex, birth country, education level, recruitment location, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance, having adequate as compared to inadequate health literacy was associated with a higher adherence score (b=0.378, p=0.043). The full model explained 13.6% of the variance in

Mediating Effect of Self-Efficacy on the Relationship Between Medication Literacy and Medication Adherence Among Patients With Hypertension

“…Previous studies have shown that hypertension patients with higher health literacy also have higher adherence to medication( Mcnaughton et al, 2014 ; Lor et al, 2019 ) People with low levels of health literacy were more likely to misinterpret information on drug labels and less likely to participate in drug decision-making and actively communicate drug information with doctors ( Aboumatar et al, 2013 ; AbuAlreesh and Alburikan, 2019 ). In addition, medication literacy is health literacy in the context of medication use ( Ngoh, 2009 ; Peiravian et al, 2014 ).…”

Functional health literacy in hypertensive elders at primary health care

“…Specifically on functional health literacy and Systemic Arterial Hypertension control in the international setting, some points deserve to be highlighted: patients with functional inadequate health literacy have worse adherence to drug treatment; worse hypertension control; worse quality of life; and increased risk of strokes (11)(12)(13)(14) . Thus, increasing the level of functional health literacy is part of the objectives of monitoring hypertensive patients (12) .…”

<p>Adherence to a Health Literacy and Healthy Lifestyle with Improved Blood Pressure Control in Iran</p>

“…29 Lor et al in a study among Hispanic adults in the US demonstrated that when controlling for individually significant covariates, 13.6% of the variation in medication adherence is explained by health literacy level. 35 Patients with low health literacy who are able to access the health-care system and have a diagnosis of hypertension or prescribed treatment have no disparities in blood pressure control. 36 Literacy may reflect the ability to seek out and access primary care healthcare, obtain follow-up for those conditions and/or comprehend written directions for medications and health information provided which are all essential steps in the management of one's health.…”