AUTHOR=Skoumalova Ivana , Madarasova Geckova Andrea , Rosenberger Jaroslav , Majernikova Maria , Kolarcik Peter , Klein Daniel , De Winter Andrea F., Van Dijk Jitse P., Reijneveld Sijmen A.
TITLE=Health-Related Quality of Life Profiles in Dialyzed Patients With Varying Health Literacy. A Cross-Sectional Study on Slovak Haemodialyzed Population
JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health
VOLUME=66
YEAR=2021
URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2021.585801
DOI=10.3389/ijph.2021.585801
ISSN=1661-8564
ABSTRACT=Objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) strongly affects patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL), mostly in the advanced stages of CKD. Health literacy (HL) may affect this association, in particular for some aspects of HRQoL. The aim of this study is to compare the profiles of HRQoL in dialyzed patients with varying HL.
Methods: We obtained data on HL using the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) and on HRQoL using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life – Short Form (KDQoL-SF 1.3) in a multicentre cross-sectional study in 20 dialysis clinics in Slovakia (n = 542; mean age = 63.6 years; males: 60.7%). We compared HRQoL for three HL groups using ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test.
Results: Patients with low HL reported worse HRQoL than patients with moderate and high HL. The greatest differences between HL groups were found in the scales Effect of kidney disease, Cognitive function, Quality of social interaction, Social support, Dialysis staff encouragement, Patient satisfaction, Physical functioning, Pain, Emotional well-being and Social function. p-values in all cases were <0.001.
Conclusion: Patients with low HL have a worse HRQoL in several domains than patients with a higher HL. Increasing HL capacities and better supporting patients with low HL should thus be given priority to support their HRQoL and at least maintain its level.