Association between health literacy, communication and psychological distress among myelodysplastic syndromes patients.
Leuk Res
; 73: 44-50, 2018 10.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30216938
ABSTRACT
MDS is a complex and potentially severe disease which can trigger psychological distress. A lack of information received and understood about MDS may also arouse feelings of distress. Low health literacy (HL) might play a role particularly among older patients. Our aim was to assess MDS-related distress and to study the factors associated with it, including medical and non-medical factors such as HL. A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to all members of French and Australian patients' national MDS associations. Data of 280 patients were analysed. A majority of patient (59.5%) reported low functional HL and 50% reported regular difficulties in asking physicians questions. Distress was not modified by gender, awareness of increased risk of developing leukaemia or MDS characteristics. French patients had a higher mean IES score (adjusted ß = 5.9, p = 0.004) compared to Australian patients. Poor satisfaction with information provided about MDS, lower functional HL and difficulties in asking physician's questions were also independently associated with distress. MDS-related distress seems more related to HL and communication with physicians than to MDS characteristics. More efforts are needed to improve health literacy, tailor information for MDS patients and support them psychologically in order to improve their emotional well-being.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Physician-Patient Relations
/
Stress, Psychological
/
Myelodysplastic Syndromes
/
Surveys and Questionnaires
/
Health Literacy
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
/
Oceania
Language:
En
Journal:
Leuk Res
Year:
2018
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Francia
Country of publication:
ENGLAND
/
ESCOCIA
/
GB
/
GREAT BRITAIN
/
INGLATERRA
/
REINO UNIDO
/
SCOTLAND
/
UK
/
UNITED KINGDOM