The Role of Health Literacy on the Self-Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The effects of health literacy in developing self-management skills among people suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a topic that has been lightly tread upon. The advent of tobacco smoking and air pollution caused by the industrialisation era has caused a startling increase in the rates of incidence and prevalence of those diagnosed with COPD. Despite advancement in medical treatment, prevention and health care systems COPD poses a great challenge to public health now than ever before. This systematic review examines eight articles that have dealt with the role health literacy plays in developing self-management skills. This study found that there is no relationship between the adequacy of health literacy and the knowledge or learning of a self-management skill. The relationship between heath literacy and developing skills such as correct technique of inhaler use, awareness of an exacerbation, usage of home-based technological support (telehomecare) needs further delving. Remarkably, it also revealed that health literacy sensitive materials improved self-management skills in all the levels of health literacy. More research is required in identifying literacy sensitive methods that would be beneficial to all disregarding of the level health literary. A wider range of self-management skills pertaining to prevention, maintenance and control needs to be explored.

Keywords:

• COPD
• self-management
• health literacy
• telehomecare