Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2023 Mar;13(3):277-280. doi: 10.1002/alr.23082. Epub 2022 Sep 21.
: Patients with limited health literacy tend to have worse medical outcomes, often due to decreased medication compliance or reduced capacity to self-manage disease. Health literacy can be assessed using validated tools such as the Brief health literacy screening tool (BRIEF). This study theorizes that lower health literacy is associated with worse sinonasal disease quality of life (QOL).
: A cohort of 187 patients at our clinic were routinely screened for health literacy and rhinosinusitis disability index (RSDI) scores. Health literacy is categorized into “Limited,” “Marginal,” and “Adequate.” The higher the RSDI, the worse the patient’s QOL. Patients were stratified into “New” and “Established” groups. Their demographic data and sinonasal disease-specific QOL were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed to assess the relationship between health literacy and Sinonasal Disease-specific QOL.
: The cohort mean age was 50 years, and 56% were females. In “New” patients, “Limited” health literacy was associated with an increase in RSDI scores (p<0.0001).
: This study demonstrates that patients with limited health literacy have a worse sinonasal disease-specific QOL. Therefore, rhinologists must be aware of this discrepancy and tailor their care appropriately to help patients with limited health literacy.
健康素养有限的患者往往医疗结局较差，这通常是由于药物依从性降低或自我管理疾病的能力下降所致。健康素养可以使用经过验证的工具进行评估，例如简短健康素养筛查工具（BRIEF）。本研究理论上认为，较低的健康素养与更差的鼻-鼻窦疾病生活质量（QOL）有关。
我们诊所的 187 名患者队列常规接受健康素养和鼻-鼻窦炎残疾指数（RSDI）评分筛查。健康素养分为“有限”、“边缘”和“充分”。RSDI 越高，患者的 QOL 越差。患者分为“新”和“已确立”组。记录他们的人口统计学数据和鼻-鼻窦疾病特异性 QOL。进行统计分析以评估健康素养与鼻-鼻窦疾病特异性 QOL 之间的关系。
队列的平均年龄为 50 岁，其中 56%为女性。在“新”患者中，“有限”的健康素养与 RSDI 评分的增加相关（p<0.0001）。
本研究表明，健康素养有限的患者具有更差的鼻-鼻窦疾病特异性 QOL。因此，鼻科医生必须意识到这种差异，并适当地调整他们的护理，以帮助健康素养有限的患者。
