Clinical Scorecard: Exploring Health Literacy Profiles in Breast Cancer Patients and Assessing Associated Quality of Life Differences

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• Three distinct health literacy profiles identified: low (9.2%), moderate (29.3%), and high (61.5%)
• Educational attainment, primary caregiver status, and having healthcare-related acquaintances significantly associated with health literacy profiles
• Quality of life scores significantly differed across health literacy profiles, with higher literacy linked to better quality of life

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• Assess health literacy levels in breast cancer patients using validated scales such as the Chronic Disease Health Literacy Scale

Management

• Develop and implement tailored nursing interventions based on patients' specific health literacy profiles to improve quality of life

Monitoring & Follow-up

• Regularly evaluate quality of life and health literacy to identify patients needing additional support

Risks

• Low health literacy is associated with delayed medical care, increased complications, higher healthcare costs, and reduced quality of life

Patient & Prescribing Data

Adult female breast cancer patients in Chinese tertiary hospitals

Tailored interventions addressing health literacy can optimize patient outcomes and enhance quality of life

Clinical Best Practices

• Use latent profile analysis to identify heterogeneous health literacy subgroups among breast cancer patients
• Incorporate educational attainment and social support factors when assessing health literacy
• Apply the Knowledge-Belief-Action Theory framework to design interventions promoting health behavior change

References

• Chinese Anti-Cancer Association Guidelines and Standards for Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer (2024 Edition)