Cardiovascular health literacy and patient-physician communication intervention in women from disadvantaged communities

Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2019 Nov;26(16):1762-1770. doi: 10.1177/2047487319853900. Epub 2019 Jun 12.

Abstract

Background: For many women in low socioeconomic status communities, limited health literacy is an obstacle to following medical guidance and engaging in health-promoting behaviours. Low health literacy skills are also associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Design: A health literacy intervention was designed through focus groups with women in low socioeconomic status communities. The primary health literacy issue identified was communication challenges at doctors' visits. A unique intervention tailored to the participants' preferences was designed consisting of three workshops conducted in community women's groups in low socioeconomic status Jerusalem communities. The intervention aimed to increase patient-physician communication skills through doctor visit preparation and better visit management, improve perceived efficacy in patient-physician interaction and expand cardiovascular disease knowledge.

Methods: Questionnaires were completed before and 3 months after the intervention, assessing knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk factors and symptoms, self-report of behaviours in preparations for a doctor's visit, and perceived efficacy in patient-physician interaction.

Results: A total of 407 women from low socioeconomic status communities completed questionnaires. Post-intervention, the percentage of women that reported preparing for doctors' visits increased significantly. Women with initially low levels of perceived efficacy in patient-physician interaction showed a significant increase in perceived efficacy, while initially higher perceived efficacy in patient-physician interaction participants showed a decrease. Participants also demonstrated an increase in knowledge of several risk factors for cardiovascular disease and heart attack symptoms.

Conclusions: A community-based cardiovascular health literacy intervention improved cardiovascular knowledge and reported doctor visit preparation in low socioeconomic status women as well as increased perceived efficacy in patient-physician interaction among participants with low baseline perceived efficacy in patient-physician interaction. This may lead to improved health care utilisation, preventing chronic illness. Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov , registration number: NCT03203018.

Keywords: Health literacy; cardiovascular diseases; health communications; women’s health.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Communication*
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Health Literacy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Israel / epidemiology
  • Physician-Patient Relations*
  • Self Report*
  • Vulnerable Populations*
  • Young Adult

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03203018