Chiara Lorini1,2, Primo Buscemi3, Enrico Mossello4,5, Annamaria Schirripa6, Barbara Giammarco6, Lisa Rigon6, Giuseppe Albora6, Duccio Giorgetti6, Massimiliano Alberto Biamonte6, Letizia Fattorini6, Rita Manuela Bruno5, Gemma Giusti1, Yari Longobucco7, Andrea Ungar4,5, Guglielmo Bonaccorsi1,2. 1. Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. 2. Health Literacy Laboratory, Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. 3. Medical Specialization School in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, viale GB Morgagni 48, 50134, Florence, Italy. primo.buscemi@unifi.it. 4. Division of Geriatric and Intensive Care Medicine, Careggi Hospital, Firenze, Italy. 5. School of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. 6. Medical Specialization School in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, viale GB Morgagni 48, 50134, Florence, Italy. 7. Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Abstract
AIM: The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence of inadequate health literacy (HL) in a sample of family caregivers of older adults with dementia, and to assess the relationship of HL with characteristics of caregiver and persons with dementia. METHODS: The study followed a cross-sectional design. Persons with dementia and their family caregivers were enrolled in an outpatients' geriatric memory clinic. For the caregivers, the following information was collected: socio-demographic data, level of HL, cognitive impairment (using the Mini-Cog). For persons with dementia, the following data were collected: socio-demographic data, functional status (using the Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living), cognitive impairment (using the Mini Mental State Evaluation, and the Global Deterioration Scale) behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with dementia (assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory). RESULTS: A total of 174 person with dementia/caregiver dyads were enrolled. About 45% of the caregivers presented a possibility or a high likelihood of inadequate HL. The percentage of caregivers with inadequate HL was higher among spousal caregivers than in offspring. Female gender, higher age and lower education were independent predictors of low HL. On multiple logistic regression analysis, persons with dementia assisted by caregivers with a high likelihood of limited HL presented higher risk of a more severe disease. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the HL of dementia caregivers has to be included in the comprehensive geriatric assessment, to develop an appropriate individualized care plan. Moreover, public health interventions are needed to increase the HL of dementia caregivers.
AIM: The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence of inadequate health literacy (HL) in a sample of family caregivers of older adults with dementia, and to assess the relationship of HL with characteristics of caregiver and persons with dementia. METHODS: The study followed a cross-sectional design. Persons with dementia and their family caregivers were enrolled in an outpatients' geriatric memory clinic. For the caregivers, the following information was collected: socio-demographic data, level of HL, cognitive impairment (using the Mini-Cog). For persons with dementia, the following data were collected: socio-demographic data, functional status (using the Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living), cognitive impairment (using the Mini Mental State Evaluation, and the Global Deterioration Scale) behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with dementia (assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory). RESULTS: A total of 174 person with dementia/caregiver dyads were enrolled. About 45% of the caregivers presented a possibility or a high likelihood of inadequate HL. The percentage of caregivers with inadequate HL was higher among spousal caregivers than in offspring. Female gender, higher age and lower education were independent predictors of low HL. On multiple logistic regression analysis, persons with dementia assisted by caregivers with a high likelihood of limited HL presented higher risk of a more severe disease. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the HL of dementia caregivers has to be included in the comprehensive geriatric assessment, to develop an appropriate individualized care plan. Moreover, public health interventions are needed to increase the HL of dementia caregivers.
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