Can Health Literacy in Patients with Chronic Atrophic Gastritis Improve the Ability to Identify Rumors? A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: To examine the connection between rumor recognition and health literacy in people with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). Methods: In this study, a cross-sectional design was employed. From May 6, 2020 to January 24, 2021, a total of 10 hospitals in each of the 5 major administrative regions of East China, North China, Central China, South China, and Northwest China were used as survey sites, and researchers were recruited to intercept CAG patients for questionnaire surveys through convenience sampling. We collected data using a self-designed questionnaire based on the functional, communicative, and critical health literacy and anti-rumor platforms. The t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple stepwise linear regression analysis were all performed using SPSS 26.0. Results: A total number 602 valid samples were obtained in this study. CAG patients had a health literacy score of (51.07±11.03). For patients with CAG, the rumor recognition ability score was (8.44±2.95), with a mean correct rate of 52.8%. There were statistical differences in the ability to read rumors among patients with atrophic gastritis by place of residence (P<0.01), age (P<0.001), nation (P<0.001), marital status (P<0.05), and level of health literacy (P<0.001). Patients had a weak positive link between health literacy and rumor recognition, according to Pearson correlation analysis (r=0.236, P<0.01). After adjusting for the nation, marital status, residence, and age, multiple stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that the capacity of patients to read rumors increased with increasing levels of functional health literacy (β=0.136, P<0.001) and critical health literacy (β=0.195, P<0.001). Conclusion: This study found CAG patients had lower rumor recognition, and that critical health literacy had a stronger positive effect on their rumor recognition after adjusting for demographic correlations. The use of targeted interventions is recommended to increase critical health literacy and lessen the harmful effects of rumors.