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Cardiac rehabilitation program and health literacy levels: A cross‐sectional, descriptive study
Author(s) -
Machado Bárbara,
Fernandes Ana,
Cruzeiro Susana,
Jesus Rui,
Araújo Nuno,
Araújo Isabel
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
nursing and health sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.563
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1442-2018
pISSN - 1441-0745
DOI - 10.1111/nhs.12615
Subject(s) - rehabilitation , health literacy , cross sectional study , medicine , descriptive research , exploratory research , population , literacy , family medicine , descriptive statistics , gerontology , nursing , physical therapy , psychology , health care , environmental health , political science , pedagogy , statistics , mathematics , pathology , sociology , anthropology , law
In Portugal, cardiovascular diseases stand out among the main causes of morbidity, disability, and mortality, with an expectation of growth up to the year 2025. A descriptive, exploratory study was carried out with patients in a cardiac rehabilitation program from an institution in the northern region of Portugal; 103 participants were randomly selected for the study. The data collection took place from February to April 2017. The majority of respondents presented a low level of literacy (inadequate and problematic). The profiles of the participants were characterized by the predominance of married males, with a mean age of 69 years. The participants considered doctors and nurses as the professionals who contribute the most to the increase of their health literacy. These health professionals have the opportunity and the responsibility to increase the health literacy levels of patients. It is known that low levels of health literacy are a problem throughout the European Union. Portugal's general population reflects this reality, and this study contributed to the conclusion that cardiac rehabilitation patients also present worrying levels of health literacy.