Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences, Research Group on Mental Health, Cognition and Ageing, University of São Paulo, Av. Tenente Catão Roxo, 2650, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, CEP: 14051-140, Brazil.
Department of Nursing, Postgraduate Programme in Nursing, Federal University of São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, São Carlos, São Paulo, CEP: 13565-905, Brazil.
Health Promot Int. 2024 Oct 1;39(5). doi: 10.1093/heapro/daae118.
Health literacy is a public health issue. Unpaid caregivers of older people with low health literacy may have difficulties providing care, exerting a negative impact on the care process. The aim of the present study was to perform a systematic review of the literature on factors associated with low health literacy in unpaid caregivers of older people. Searches for relevant articles were conducted in the Cochrane Library, Embase, LILACS, PubMed and Web of Science databases. A total of 1440 articles were identified, nine of which met the eligibility criteria and were included in the systematic review, which was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024522986). A total of 2209 unpaid caregivers participated in the studies selected for this review. Most were women (67.2%). The average frequency of inadequate health literacy was 27.1%. Sociodemographic characteristics (i.e. advanced age, low educational level, the female sex), factors related to the care process (i.e. low acculturation, low empowerment, poor ability to read medication package inserts, lower care capacity, greater disease severity, hospitalization of care recipients), cognitive factors and factors related to quality of life/well-being (i.e. less social support, poorer quality of life, greater cognitive impairment, higher levels of burden) were associated with low health literacy. In conclusion, low health literacy in unpaid caregivers of older people is associated with sociodemographic, care-related and cognitive factors as well as factors related to quality of life/well-being. Low health literacy may exert a negative impact on the health of caregivers and, consequently, the quality of care provided to older people.
健康素养是一个公共卫生问题。健康素养水平较低的老年人的无薪照顾者在提供护理时可能会遇到困难，对护理过程产生负面影响。本研究的目的是对与老年人无薪照顾者的低健康素养相关的因素进行系统评价。在 Cochrane Library、Embase、LILACS、PubMed 和 Web of Science 数据库中搜索相关文章。共确定了 1440 篇文章，其中有 9 篇符合入选标准并被纳入系统评价，该系统评价已在 PROSPERO（CRD42024522986）中注册。共有 2209 名无薪照顾者参与了本综述所选研究。大多数为女性（67.2%）。健康素养不足的平均频率为 27.1%。社会人口学特征（即年龄较大、教育程度较低、女性）、与护理过程相关的因素（即低文化适应、低赋权、阅读药物说明书的能力差、护理能力较低、疾病严重程度较高、照顾对象住院）、认知因素和与生活质量/幸福感相关的因素（即较少的社会支持、较差的生活质量、较大的认知障碍、更高的负担）与低健康素养相关。总之，老年人无薪照顾者的低健康素养与社会人口学、与护理相关的和认知因素以及与生活质量/幸福感相关的因素有关。低健康素养可能对照顾者的健康产生负面影响，从而影响对老年人的护理质量。
