Prof. Graeme Drummond Smith1, Prof. Ann Bonner1, Dr . Sara Poon, Dr. SF Lui, Prof. Angela Leung, Dr. Danny Tong
1Saint Francis University, , Hong Kong
Biography:
Professor Graeme D. Smith is currently a Professor of Nursing in the S. K. Yee School of Health Sciences, St. Francis University, Hong Kong. He has been a Fellow of the European Academy of Nursing Science since 2003. His Doctoral studies at University of Edinburgh arose from an interest in psychological healthcare in chronic illness, where he is currently a Honorary Professor. His current research interests include health literacy in chronic illness, loneliness in older people and resilience. Professor Smith is currently the editor of the Journal of Advanced Nursing.
Abstract:
Background: Adults living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) ace the challenges of managing multiple medications, complex treatment regimens, lifestyle modifications, and frequent health-related appointments. Effective self-management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) requires good health literacy (HL) skills to be able to access, understand, and utilize health information. Health literacy and self-efficacy (SE) are interrelated concepts that play a vital role in CKD management, empowering individuals to make informed health decisions and achieve optimal self-management outcomes. To date, little is known about the relationship between HL and SE in adults with CKD in Hong Kong, with its unique cultural heritage this study aimed to examine these variables in this population.
Methods: Using a descriptive cross-sectional survey design, a convenience sampling approach was used to recruit adults attending a CKD self-help group in Hong Kong. Participants completed the Short-Form Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLS-SF12) and the Chinese General Self-Efficacy Scale (CGSE) self-reported questionnaires. Data analyses included independent t-tests and one-way ANOVAs, and Pearson’s correlation to examine linear relationships between variables.
Results: Over-three quarters (78.9%) of participants exhibited limited or problematic levels of health literacy. The mean CGSE score was 22.6 (SD 5.96), indicating generally low perceived self-efficacy in the sample. Individuals with sufficient or excellent HL had notably higher SE scores (Mean 27.04, SD 6.7) compared to those with limited or problematic HL.
Discussion: These findings underscore the importance of both HL and SE in adults with CKD. Targeted, culturally-sensitive interventions are warranted to empower individuals and enhance disease self-management behaviours.