Relationship of family members’ health literacy and performance in face of myocardial infarction

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of family members’ health literacy and performance in face of myocardial infarction.

Myocardial infarction is one of the most important causes of death and disability in developed and developing countries. Proper performance of patients' attendance in early hours of myocardial infarction event plays an important role in reducing mortality and morbidity. Health literacy is also known as one of the major determinants of understanding information about health.

In this descriptive-correlational study, 286 family members of patients experiencing myocardial infarction that witnessed the vent were recruited in the study by convenience sampling method and based on inclusion criteria of reading and writing literacy and age over 18 years old. Data were collected using a demographic form, Iranian adult health literacy questionnaire (HELIA) and the questionnaire performance during myocardial infarction. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 22 using descriptive statistics (frequency distribution, mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (mean comparison, correlation and regression tests).

Health literacy mean score (61.49±21.05) showed an adequate level. “Assessment skills” and “decision making and application of health information” had, respectively, the lowest (52.68±25.30) and the highest (68.07±19.87) mean score among health literacy dimensions. There was a statistically significant relationship of health literacy with age, education and medical profession in the family (P≤0.0001). Only 17.98 percent of the participants had a good level of performance (Scores 6.8 to 10). The history of myocardial infarction in patient and the duration of the patient transition from the onset of pain to arrival to the hospital showed a statistically significant relationship with performance, meaning that family members of patients with a history of myocardial infarction were able to transfer their patient to the hospital in less than half an hour (P≤0.0001). A statistically significant relationship was found between health literacy and performance; those with higher level of health literacy had better performance. Of the health literacy domains, only understanding had a significant relationship with performance (P=0.004).

Although the mean score of health literacy was adequate, the participants hadn't good performance. Therefore, improving the performance of community and family members by health service providers including nurses, mass media, practitioners, and health promotion planners for educational interventions is recommended. Proper planning to increase specific health literacy can prevent adverse outcomes in this area.