To explore whether self-care confidence mediates the relationship between health literacy (HL) and quality of life (QoL) in patients with heart failure (HF).
Approach:
Study Design: A total of 320 HF patients from three hospitals in Chengdu, China were selected. Data were collected using the Chinese version of the HF HL scale, self-care confidence scale, and QoL scale.
Data Analysis: Independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression were used to analyze QoL factors. Pearson correlation analysis assessed the correlation between HL, self-care confidence, and QoL.
Mediating Effects: Mediating effects were analyzed using the PROCESS macro (Model 4) and Bootstrap method.
Key Findings:
HL score was 24.45 ± 9.44 points.
Self-care confidence score was 33.66 ± 18.63 points.
QoL score was 48.50 ± 13.32 points.
HL was positively correlated with self-care confidence (r = 0.807, P < 0.01).
HL was negatively correlated with QoL (r = −0.472, P < 0.01).
Self-care confidence was negatively correlated with QoL (r = −0.454, P < 0.01).
Self-care confidence mediated the relationship between HL and QoL, accounting for 36% of the mediating effect.
Interpretation:
HL significantly impacts QoL, and self-care confidence mediates this relationship.
Conclusion:
Healthcare professionals should focus on improving patients' HL and self-care confidence through targeted health education programs.
