Health Literacy and Health-Related Quality of Life Among a Population-Based Sample of Cancer Patients

Abstract

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important outcome in cancer care. Few studies indicate that that health literacy (HL) influences cancer patients’ HRQOL, but additional investigation is needed. We examined the relation between HL and HRQOL among cancer patients. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with cancer patients in Wisconsin during 2006–2007. Data on sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, HRQOL, and HL were obtained from the state’s cancer registry and a mailed questionnaire. Regression analyses were used to characterize the association between HRQOL and HL. The study sample included 1,841 adults, newly diagnosed with lung, breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer in 2004 (response rate=68%). HRQOL was measured with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G). Adjusting for confounders, higher HL was associated with greater HRQOL (P <.0001). Controlling for covariates, we found significant differences between those in the highest and lowest health literacy categories (P <.0001) and in the physical (P <.0001), functional (P <.0001), emotional (P <.0001), and social (P =.0007) well-being subscales. These associations exceeded the minimally important difference threshold for overall HRQOL and functional well-being. HL is positively and independently associated with HRQOL among cancer patients. These findings support adoption of HL best practices by cancer care systems.

Influence of Health Literacy on HRQoL in Patients After PCI

“…In this study, health literacy and HRQoL means ranked higher in PCI patients with 10.72 scores and 43.89 scores, respectively. Similarly (Halverson et al, 2015), the higher levels of health literacy positively influenced HRQoL scores in PCI patients. Also, given that general health perception is among the important independent determinants of health service utilization (Lam, Fong, Lauder, & Lam, 2002), a higher HRQoL is likely to increase individual health behaviors and selfcare management for PCI patients after discharge.…”

“…Recent reports have shown that health literacy is now emerging as a significant determinant to improving HRQoL in patients with coronary artery disease (Halverson et al, 2015). In particular, in PCI patients, health literacy could play a key role in reinforcing medication knowledge or medication adherence because the high-risk population after PCI requires a relatively high number of prescriptions for medication for the medical therapy after discharge (Reuter et al, 2015).…”

The effects of medication adherence and health literacy on health‐related quality of life in older people with hypertension

“…By contrast, Halverson et al. () reported that health literacy is a very influential factor in health‐related quality of life among patients with cancer. Our study also showed that better health literacy was related with higher health‐related quality of life.…”

“…However, these studies failed to find a significant relationship between health literacy and health-related quality of life. By contrast, Halverson et al (2015) reported that health literacy is a very influential factor in health-related quality of life among patients with cancer. Our study also showed that better health literacy was related with higher health-related quality of life.…”

Factors associated with genetic testing in a cohort of breast cancer survivors

“…Predictors of interest included: age at diagnosis, ethnicity/race (white vs. other), number of relatives (mother, sisters, daughters, grandmothers, and aunts) with a history of breast cancer, education (at least a college degree vs. no college degree), household income ($ midpoints of income categories), type of treatment (breast‐conserving surgery or unilateral mastectomy vs. bilateral mastectomy), type of health insurance (private/employer/spouse/other insurance vs. Medicaid/Medicare vs. none), and urbanicity (Metropolitan vs. non‐metropolitan RUCA codes) . Health literacy was measured as the cumulative score across five questions rated on a five‐point Likert scale …”