Impact of health literacy on education retention of stroke patients

Abstract

Objective To describe the health literacy level and to explore the effect of health literacy level on education retention of patients with stroke. Methods Totally 100 stroke survivors were selected as the subject by convenience sampling. They were evaluated by Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults on admission,and they accepted 60-90 minutes education intervention during hospitalization. Evaluation retention were measured before discharge. Results The score of the overall health literacy was (15.60±1.36) points,among of them, low level was 37 cases, general level was 24 cases, high level was 39 cases. Age, education level and Mini-Mental Status Exam score had a significant effect on the health literacy of patients with stroke (χ2/F=14.248, 12.082, 11.329,P<0.05). After education intervention,the score of education retention was (6.69±2.00)points, and the score of education retention in low, general, high level health literacy were (5.08±2.06), (7.46±1.61), (7.51±1.76) points, and there were significant differences(F=14.223,P<0.05). Health literacy had a effect on education(P <0.01). Conclusions The level of health literacy of stroke patients has the effect of improving the education retention. Improving and maintaining the health literacy of stroke patients should be the development direction of the prevention and treatment of stroke diseases. Key words: Stroke; Health literacy; Education; Retention(psychology)