Considering health literacy in communication about medications between nurses and patients with heart failure: A cross sectional observational study

IF 2.9 2区医学 Q2 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Patient Education and Counseling Pub Date : 2025-02-20 DOI:10.1016/j.pec.2025.108709

Anne Geert van Driel , Ekram Maghroudi , Annemarie van der Klis , John de Heide , Susanne van Hooft , AnneLoes van Staa , Tiny Jaarsma

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

To explore the content, style, and initiation of medication-related discussions between nurses and patients to understand how nurses support patients with heart failure, especially those with inadequate health literacy.

Methods

A cross-sectional design was conducted to observe medication-related conversations between nurses and patients with heart failure in four Dutch outpatient clinics. Conversations were audio-recorded and analyzed using MEDICODE, focusing on content, communication style (monologue or a dialogue), and initiation of the content themes. Health literacy was assessed using the NVS-D and the SBSQ. Results between health literacy groups were compared with descriptive analyses.

Results

A total of 56 patients and 14 nurses participated in the study. Patients classified by one or both of the instruments as having inadequate health literacy (n = 33; 59 %) were generally older, had lower educational levels, and were more often accompanied by informal caregivers. Key themes discussed in the medication-related conversations included how the medication was identified (‘medication designation), its dosage and instruction, main effects, side effects, attitude or emotions and other (‘various’) themes. The ‘medication designation’ theme was significantly more frequently discussed in the group with adequate health literacy, whereas ‘attitude or emotions’ and ‘various themes’ were more commonly discussed among those with inadequate health literacy. Most conversations were nurse-initiated and tended to be monologues, with nurses mainly serving as information providers.

Conclusions

Nurses primarily initiated and dominated medication-related discussions with a focus on factual aspects of medication, while patients initiated more discussions about their concerns regarding medication. While there was overlap in the topics discussed, notable differences emerged between patients with adequate and inadequate health literacy.

Practice Implications

Improving communication strategies, such as structuring conversations and adopting dialogic approaches may improve patients’ engagement and understanding of medication use, leading to more effective management of their condition, particularly benefiting patients with lower health literacy.

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来源期刊

Patient Education and Counseling 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

5.60

自引率

11.40%

发文量

384

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Patient Education and Counseling is an interdisciplinary, international journal for patient education and health promotion researchers, managers and clinicians. The journal seeks to explore and elucidate the educational, counseling and communication models in health care. Its aim is to provide a forum for fundamental as well as applied research, and to promote the study of organizational issues involved with the delivery of patient education, counseling, health promotion services and training models in improving communication between providers and patients.