The Relationship between Health literacy and Health-Related Behaviors among Clients with Chronic Diseases

Abd El-Aal, Bahiga Galal; Shehata, Hanady Sh.; Shebl, Hedaya Abd El-maboud; Hussein, Afaf Abd Elmalek

doi:10.21608/menj.2023.381759

The Relationship between Health literacy and Health-Related Behaviors among Clients with Chronic Diseases

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Professor of Family and Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing- Menoufia University. Egypt

² Assistant Professor of Family and Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing- Menoufia University. Egypt

³ B. Sc. in Nursing, Head Nurse in Neurosurgical Hospital, Shebin El-kom, Menoufia Governorate. Egypt.

10.21608/menj.2023.381759

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Health literacy is an emerging concept in the health care environment. It is one of the main factors that is related to adoption of the healthy related behaviors. Clients with low health literacy are frequently facing difficulties specially, when having chronic diseases. Purpose: Determine the relationship between health literacy and health related behaviors among clients with chronic diseases. Design: Descriptive correlational design. Setting: Outpatient clinics of three governmental hospitals in Menofia governorate, Egypt. Sample: A purposive sample of 241 clients with chronic diseases. Instruments: Three instruments were used: 1) A structured interview questionnaire, it includes socio-demographic characteristics, medical history and sources of health information of the participants. 2) Health literacy scale. 3) Reported health related- behaviors scale. Results: The study findings revealed that mean age of the studied sample 43.54 ± 10.57. About 48% of them ha\ good health literacy and about 61% of them had moderate level of reported health- related behaviors. In addition, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between health literacy and reported health-related behaviors. Also, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between total mean score of participant health literacy level and total mean score of subscales of reported health-related behaviors. Conclusion: There was a statistically significant positive correlation between health literacy and reported health-related behaviors. Also, there were a positive relationship between occupation, level of education and total mean score of health literacy and health-related behaviors. Recommendations: Programs should be designed and implemented to improve health literacy and health- related behaviors of clients with chronic condition in different health care setting.

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