Rei Kobayashi|Masato Ishizaki
Relationship Between Health Literacy and Social Support and the Quality of Life in Patients With Cancer: Questionnaire Study
The University of Tokyo|The University of Tokyo
background low health literacy associated factors taking medication prescribed well poor health status increased hospitalization mortality risk identified risk factor decreased physical function older individuals health literacy becoming increasingly important issue increased number people affected cancer must make complicated treatment decisions health literacy shown positively associated quality life qol social support identified important addressing healthrelated problems reducing relative risk mortality patients cancer however studies examined relationship health literacy social support age qol objective aim study examine effects health literacy social support age qol patients cancer methods anonymous selfadministered online questionnaire conducted march 28 30 2017 japan patients lung stomach colon cancer voluntarily registered internet survey company survey covered basic attributes health literacy social support qol european health literacy survey questionnaire comprehensive measure health literacy instrument used measure health literacy japanese version social support scale used measure social support japanese version functional assessment cancer therapygeneral 7item version assessment tool used measure qol results total 735 survey invitations randomly sent patients lung stomach colorectal cancer responses obtained 619 822 response rate significant effects qol patients lung stomach colon cancer observed health literacy social support age interactions health literacy social support social support age health literacy social support interaction variables also showed significant effect qol patients 50 years older younger 50 years conclusions results study revealed higher health literacy social support age associated qol patients cancer addition relationship qol stronger social support health literacy findings suggest importance health literacy social support indicate social support greater effect qol health literacy qol patients cancer aged younger 50 years lower 50 years older therefore elucidating needs patients strengthening social support based needs may improve qol