Knowledge and Perceptions of Health Literacy Among Nurses in Thailand

Background: Patients’ low health literacy (HL) is a major limitation for effective delivery of healthcare services. Patients with low health literacy often experience more adverse events, have higher healthcare services utilization and increase the cost of healthcare delivery. In recent years, the Thai public health officials have put more emphasis on HL in the delivery of effective care because of the rapid increase in prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Thailand. Nurses carry an important role in patient education and disease management. Their level of HL knowledge and their communication skills with patients are important factors in improvement of patients’ HL. Research on nurses’ HL knowledge and attitude is limited, particularly in Thailand.

Objectives: to evaluate nurses’ health literacy knowledge, communication techniques and potential barriers to delivery to improving of health literacy among patients.

Design and Methods: A cross-sectional study design with 1,817 nurses participating from 104 community hospitals across 12 regions of Thailand was implemented. Data were collected from September to October 2018, using questionnaire a Nursing Professional Health Literacy (NPHL). Descriptive statistics were computed on the participants’ demographics, knowledge, and perception of health literacy, communication techniques, and barriers to HL assessment/screening /education programs.

Results: Slightly more half of the study participants (54%) had heard about the concept of health literacy; however, only 9.1% had received formal training specific to interaction with patients with low health literacy. More than half of nurses were aware of their patients’ low HL. They applied communication techniques recommended for patients with low HL. Around 53.8% of the nurses were limited in their HL knowledge; the other limitations were assessment tools, inadequate time for HL and patient education program.

Conclusions: Hospital administration should foster an environment for implementation and delivery of HL among vulnerable patients. Additionally, incorporation of HL courses within the curriculum of nursing academic training should be considered.