Alexandra N’Goran|Jérôme Pasquier|Anouk Déruaz?Luyet|Bernard Burnand|Dagmar M. Haller|Stefan Neuner?Jehle|Andreas Zeller|Sven Streit|Lilli Herzig|Patrick Bodenmann
Factors associated with health literacy in multimorbid patients in primary care: a cross-sectional study in Switzerland
University of Lausanne|Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine|University of Lausanne|Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine|University of Geneva|University of Zurich|University of Basel|University of Bern|University of Lausanne|University of Lausanne
objective identify factors associated health literacy multimorbid patients design nationwide crosssectional study switzerland univariate multivariate linear regressions calculated identify variables associated health literacy multiple imputation approach used deal missing values participants multimorbid patients recruited primary care settings n888 18 years old suffering least 3 75 chronic conditions predefined list based international classification primary care 2 main measures health literacy assessed using european health literacy survey project questionnaire hlseu 6 comprises six items scored 1 4 difficult1 fairly difficult2 fairly easy3 easy4 total health literacy score computed mean wished understand determinants associated lower health literacy hlseu 6 score dependent variable covariates considered independent results mean health literacy score sd 29 05 multivariate analyses found significant associations low health literacy scores treatment burden scores 0004 95 ci 0006 0002 marital status predominantly divorced group 0136 95 ci 0012 0260 dimensions euroquol 5 dimension 3 level eq5d3l quality life assessment moderate problems mobility 0086 95 ci 0157 0016 moderate problems 0129 95 ci 0198 0060 severe problems anxietydepression 0343 95 ci 0500 0186 conclusions multimorbid patients high treatment burden altered quality life problems mobility anxiety depression often also low levels health literacy primary care practitioners therefore pay particular attention patients daily practice