Health literacy in pressure injury: findings from a mixed methods study of community-based patients and carers

This paper, drawn from a larger mixed methods case study, provides insights into the health literacy of community-based patients with pressure injuries, and their carers, and critically analyses the patient information resources available; crucial because health literacy is associated with patient care and outcomes for patients. Two data sets were used to better understand patient literacy in relation to pressure injury: (i) narratives from patients and carers; and, (ii) analysis of patient education resources. Narratives were subject to content analysis and patient education resources available to the patients were analysed drawing on the Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook, the National Health Service Toolkit for Producing Patient Resources and compared to an internationally advocated pressure injury leaflet. Study findings indicated that despite leaflets broadly meeting required production and content guidelines, patients appeared to poorly engage with these materials and demonstrated limited health literacy in relation to pressure injury. Although improvements in leaflet production and readability may be advantageous, emphasis should remain on quality patient-healthcare professional relationships, to enable tailored patient education that can enhance awareness and engagement with treatment and prevention interventions