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| Analyzing Health Literacy to Improve Patient Self-Care Management:A SystematicReview |
Pamela Jenice Gray and Dr. Bruce Lazar, MBA, DM
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Abstract:
The primary objective of this systematic literature review is to determine the use of measurement scales for health literacy among clinicians for the improvement to patient self-care management. Low health literacy has been described as the inability to comprehend and to effectively use medical information and treatments. Predominantly found among adults sixty-five years old and older residing in low-income populations. To date, a treatment has not been identified to increase health literacy. However, effective communication is a resourceful tool that to bring forth an increase in understanding and education to individuals to help them control their self-care management. A search was conducted using PubMed (Medline) and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature academic databases following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Data from 16 relevant articles were analyzed using screening criteria that revolved around the research question. Three themes emerged from the literature during the analysis process. The themes included "health literacy", "adults in poverty", and "patient self-care management". The results indicated that the use of measurement scales for health literacy are necessary to see improvement in patient self-care management. The implications of these findings provide healthcare leaders and clinicians an opportunity to effectively use measurement scales for health literacy to produce positive outcomes and continue to improve the quality of a patient's self-care management.
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