Latent Profile Analysis of Health Information Literacy in COPD Patients and Its Association with Quality of Life.

Background: Health information literacy (HIL) is crucial to patients' quality of life with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, individual differences in HIL among COPD patients remain underexplored.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine COPD patients' HIL profiles, investigate the factors influencing these profiles, and assess their association with quality of life (QoL).

Methods: Using convenience sampling, a cross-sectional study was conducted in hospitals across Hunan Province, China, from October 2023 to June 2024. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Health Information Literacy Self-Assessment Questionnaire (HILSQ), the COPD Self-Management Scale, and the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test (CAT) Scale. Latent profile analysis (LPA) identified distinct HIL profiles. Multiple logistic regression determined predictors of profile classification. The DU3STEP method within the AUXILIARY option in Mplus version 8.3 was used to analyze the impact of HIL profiles on QoL.

Results: A total of 432 COPD patients were included. Three distinct HIL profiles were identified: low-level (33.5%), medium-level (54.2%), and high-level (12.3%). Older age and longer disease duration were significantly associated with the low-level group, while better self-management predicted membership in the high-level group. QoL significantly differed across the three profiles χ² = 313.119, p < 0.001), with the high-level group reporting the best outcomes.

Conclusions: Three distinct HIL profiles were identified among COPD patients, each characterized by differing levels of age, disease course, self-management, and QoL. Targeted interventions - such as tailored education and digital support - can help address the specific challenges faced by patients with lower HIL, thereby enhancing their capacity to manage their condition and improving overall health outcomes.