Postoperative Infection Rates Influenced by Level of Health Literacy
Low health literacy (LHL) is a risk factor for higher rates of postoperative infection, according to a recent study. The researchers found that patients with LHL were nearly 4.5 times more likely to have infectious complications in the month following their operation than patients with adequate health literacy.
For their study, they examined data from 270 patients who underwent colon and rectal surgeries. Health literacy levels were determined using the 4-question Brief Health Literacy Screening Tool. Of the 270 participants, 213 had adequate health literacy, 38 had marginal health literacy, and 19 had low health literacy.
Overall, 36.8% of patients who had LHL had an infectious complication, compared with only 13.6% of those with adequate health literacy. After controlling for potential risk factors of infection, the odds ratio for postoperative infection in patients with low health literacy was 4.49.
The researchers also examined the length of hospital stay, readmissions, deaths, and patients’ adherence rates with the hospital’s enhanced recovery program (ERP). However, no significant differences between the groups were observed in these secondary investigations.
While elements such as education, socioeconomic status, age, and language, and cultural barriers are all factors contributing to low health literacy, the researchers noted that the complexity of information given to patients was part of the problem – and one that could be easily addressed by healthcare professionals.
“It’s important to understand that patients with limited health literacy might be at higher risk for an infection after surgery, so we can start to understand why and design interventions and tools to better support those patients,” said study author Lauren Theiss in a press release.1 “Our goal is not to modify a patient’s health literacy but modify the way that we interact and communicate with patients and provide them with health information.”
—Leigh Precopio
Reference:
Low health literacy may be a risk factor for postoperative infection. News release. American College of Surgeons; August 25, 2020. Accessed August 25, 2020. https://www.facs.org/media/press-releases/2020/low-health-literacy-082420#viewport