June M Como1. 1. Author Affiliation: Assistant Professor of Nursing, Graduate and Clinical Doctorate in Nursing Practice Programs Coordinator, and Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine, College of Staten Island, City University of New York.
Abstract
PURPOSE/AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate whether health literacy, self-efficacy, and medication adherence can explain or predict the variance in health outcomes (measured as perceived physical or mental health status [HS]) in persons with chronic heart failure (HF). DESIGN: A nonexperimental cross-sectional survey study used data gathered from 175 patients with chronic HF from urban cardiology practices in the northeast United States. METHODS: The Paasche-Orlow and Wolf Causal Pathways conceptual model and Bandura's self-efficacy theory were used to select and test variables in the study. A demographic questionnaire, the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy, the Self-Efficacy for Appropriate Medication Use Scale, the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, and the Short Form-12 version 2 assessing perceived physical and mental HS were completed. Multiple hierarchical regression analyses were used to analyze relationships among the variables. RESULTS: Significant associations between health literacy and self-efficacy and between health literacy and perceived mental HS were found (P < .05). High self-efficacy was the strongest predictor of physical HS (P < .01). The strongest predictor of mental HS was medication adherence (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Support of self-efficacy and medication adherence may improve HS. Including health literacy strategies in clinical practice may support improvements in HS in people with chronic HF.
PURPOSE/AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate whether health literacy, self-efficacy, and medication adherence can explain or predict the variance in health outcomes (measured as perceived physical or mental health status [HS]) in persons with chronic heart failure (HF). DESIGN: A nonexperimental cross-sectional survey study used data gathered from 175 patients with chronic HF from urban cardiology practices in the northeast United States. METHODS: The Paasche-Orlow and Wolf Causal Pathways conceptual model and Bandura's self-efficacy theory were used to select and test variables in the study. A demographic questionnaire, the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy, the Self-Efficacy for Appropriate Medication Use Scale, the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, and the Short Form-12 version 2 assessing perceived physical and mental HS were completed. Multiple hierarchical regression analyses were used to analyze relationships among the variables. RESULTS: Significant associations between health literacy and self-efficacy and between health literacy and perceived mental HS were found (P < .05). High self-efficacy was the strongest predictor of physical HS (P < .01). The strongest predictor of mental HS was medication adherence (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Support of self-efficacy and medication adherence may improve HS. Including health literacy strategies in clinical practice may support improvements in HS in people with chronic HF.