Does Health Literacy of Hemodialyzed Patients Predict the Type of Their Vascular Access? A Cross-Sectional Study on Slovak Hemodialyzed Population

Martina Zavacka, Ivana Skoumalova, Andrea Madarasova Geckova, Jaroslav Rosenberger, Peter Zavacky, Jana Pobehova and Maria Majernikova
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Martina Zavacka: Vascular Surgery Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. Safarik University, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia
Ivana Skoumalova: Department of Health Psychology and Research Methodology, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. Safarik University, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia
Andrea Madarasova Geckova: Department of Health Psychology and Research Methodology, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. Safarik University, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia
Jaroslav Rosenberger: Department of Health Psychology and Research Methodology, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. Safarik University, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia
Peter Zavacky: I. Surgery Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. Safarik University, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia
Jana Pobehova: Vascular Surgery Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. Safarik University, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia
Maria Majernikova: FMC—Dialysis Services Slovakia, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Kosice, Slovakia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-8

Abstract: Effective vascular access (VA) is an essential condition for providing hemodialysis, affecting patients’ health outcomes. We aim to explore how health literacy (HL) as a non-clinical factor is associated with the decision-making process regarding VA type selection. Using data from 20 dialysis centers across Slovakia ( n = 542, mean age = 63.6, males = 60.7%), the association of HL with type of VA (arteriovenous fistula (AVF) vs. central venous catheter (CVC)) was analyzed using a logistic regression model adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and comorbidity. Sociodemographic data and data on nine domains of HL were collected by questionnaire. Data on VA and comorbidity were obtained from a medical records. Patients with a greater ability to engage with healthcare providers (odds ratio (OR): 1.34; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00–1.78), those with a better ability to navigate the healthcare system (OR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.08–1.85), those more able to find good health information (OR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.15–2.03), and those who understand it well enough to know what to do (OR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.12–2.06) are more likely to have AVF. Patients’ HL is associated with the type of VA; therefore, it should be considered in the decision-making process regarding the selection of the type of VA, thereby informing strategies for improving patients’ HL and doctor–patient communication.

Keywords: health literacy; vascular access; central venous catheter; arteriovenous fistula; dialyzed patients; chronic kidney disease (CKD-5) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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