The evaluation of patients’ health literacy

In this dissertation titled ‘The evaluation of patients’ health literacy’, the issue of patients’ health literacy is analysed. A patients’ ability to take care of his/her health and to use health care services directly depends on his/her health literacy skills. This is the first scientific study in Lithuania, measuring patients’ health literacy level and exploring factors influencing it, and for the first time comparable results on how information provided to patients by nurses is evaluated by patients and nurses themselves have been provided. In order to achieve the aim of this study – to evaluate the level of patients’ health literacy, and patients’ and nurses’ attitudes towards health information provided by nurses – a theoretical analysis of literature sources was used, and an anonymous survey of patients (n=876) and nurses (n=386), using international and author-designed questionnaires, was carried out. This study on patients’ health literacy, for the first time performed in Lithuania, has revealed an insufficient level of patients’ knowledge on health, confirmed the factors influencing it and disclosed some aspects of patients’ and nurses’ attitudes in the area of health literacy that should be improved