Chloe E Holden|Sally Wheelwright|Amélie Harle|Richard Wagland
The role of health literacy in cancer care: A mixed studies systematic review
University of Southampton|University of Southampton|University of Southampton
patients diagnosed cancer face many challenges need good understanding diagnosis proposed treatments make informed decisions care health literacy plays important role low health literacy associated poorer outcomes aims review identify outcomes relate health literacy patients cancer combine mixed studies approach patient experience described qualitative studiesfour electronic databases searched january 2021 identify records relating health literacy patients cancer records independently screened assessed inclusion two reviewers according following criteria patients aged 18 years cancer english language publication health literacy measured validated tool measured outcome associated health literacy qualitative study exploring role health literacy patients make decisions health quality independently assessed two reviewers narrative synthesis performed findings integrated concept mapping systematic review registered prospero entry crd420201664544441 records retrieved following deduplication 2496 titles abstracts screened full texts 405 papers reviewed eligibility 66 papers relating 60 studies met eligibility criteria lower health literacy associated greater difficulties understanding processing cancer related information poorer quality life poorer experience care personal situational influences contributed participants processed information reached decisions carethis review highlights important role health literacy patients cancer outcomes poorer experience difficulties health literacy efforts made facilitate understanding develop health literacy support patients become involved care