Relationship between Determinants of Health, Equity, and Dimensions of Health Literacy in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease

Ana Cristina Cabellos-García, Enrique Castro-Sánchez, Antonio Martínez-Sabater, Miguel Ángel Díaz-Herrera, Ana Ocaña-Ortiz, Raúl Juárez-Vela and Vicente Gea-Caballero
Additional contact information
Ana Cristina Cabellos-García: Hospital Universitari I Politècnic La Fe, Health Research Institut La Fe, Research Group GREIACC, 46026 Valencia, Spain
Enrique Castro-Sánchez: National Institute for Health Research, Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance at Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Antonio Martínez-Sabater: Nursing Department, Universitat de València, Hospital Clínico Universitario, 46010 València, Spain
Miguel Ángel Díaz-Herrera: Equipo de Atención Primaria Sant Ildefons-Cornella 2, Institut Català de la Salut, 08004 Barcelona, Spain
Ana Ocaña-Ortiz: Fundación para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunitat Valenciana FISABIO, 46035 València, Spain
Raúl Juárez-Vela: International Univeristy of La Roja, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón, 26006 Logroño, Spain
Vicente Gea-Caballero: Escuela de Enfermería La Fe, Adscript Center of Universitat de Valencia, Health Research Institut La Fe, Research Group GREIACC, 46026 Valencia, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: Background : Health literacy (HL) has been linked to empowerment, use of health services, and equity. Evaluating HL in people with cardiovascular health problems would facilitate the development of suitable health strategies care and reduce inequity. Aim: To investigate the relationship between different dimensions that make up HL and social determinants in patients with cardiovascular disease. Methods : Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study in patients with cardiovascular disease, aged 50–85 years, accessing primary care services in Valencia (Spain) in 2018–2019. The Health Literacy Questionnaire was used. Results : 252 patients. Age was significantly related with the ability to participate with healthcare providers ( p = 0.043), ability to find information ( p = 0.022), and understanding information correctly to know what to do ( p = 0.046). Level of education was significant for all HL dimensions. Patients without studies scored lower in all dimensions. The low- versus middle-class social relationship showed significant results in all dimensions. Conclusions : In patients with cardiovascular disease, level of education and social class were social determinants associated with HL scores. Whilst interventions at individual level might address some HL deficits, inequities in access to cardiovascular care and health outcomes would remain unjustly balanced unless structural determinants of HL are taken into account.

Keywords: health literacy; cardiovascular diseases; social determinants of health; health status disparities; equity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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