The Relationship between Health Literacy and Self Administration of Inhalation Therapy in Patients with Obstructive Lung Diseases

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore health literacy and level of knowledge regarding the administration of inhaled medications of patients with obstructive lung diseases. Additionally, the study aimed to assess the relationship between patients’ health literacy and knowledge of the administration of inhaled medication in relation to patients’ demographic characteristics, experience and education on inhalation therapy administration. A cross-sectional study among patients with obstructive lung diseases treated in the Pulmonology Department of Požega County General Hospital from November 2022 to March 2023 was conducted. The research instrument used was the validated Croatian version of the functional health literacy test SAHLCA-50. A total of one hundred and one respondents, aged 18 to 81 years and older, participated in the study. The results indicated that 65 respondents (64.4%) demonstrated adequate health literacy. Female respondents exhibited significantly higher levels of health literacy (p=0.01) and knowledge on MDI administration (p=0.001). Respondents aged 18 to 40 demonstrated significantly higher levels of health literacy compared to respondents aged 61 to 80 (p = 0.003) and those 81 years and older (p = 0.007). A higher level of knowledge on MDI administration was observed in respondents who had been using MDI for 5 to 10 years and in those who received education from medical professionals prior to MDI self-administration (p = 0.03). The study highlights the importance of health literacy and patient education in individuals suffering from obstructive lung diseases, as these factors represent crucial prerequisites for the correct self-administration of inhalation therapy.

DOI: 10.5671/ca.48.2.4