Associations between disease education, self-management support, and health literacy in psoriasis

Abstract

Background

Patients’ ability to perform self-management may be compromised if they are unable to fully comprehend their diagnosis and treatments. Weaknesses in health literacy (HL) pose a considerable health concern and may negatively influence SM, as well as interactions with health care professionals (HCP) and peers.

Objectives

To investigate possible associations between comprehensive HL and psoriasis education from HCPs in a cohort of patients with psoriasis. Another aim was to examine essential sources for psoriasis information and how these are evaluated.

Methods

Cross-sectional questionnaire data, including the comprehensive Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) from 825 patients with psoriasis who had participated in Climate Helio Therapy (CHT).

Results

Participants having received HCP education scored significantly better in all HLQ scales compared to participants who did not receive such education (Cohen’s effect size: 0.24 to 0.44). The CHT program, peers, and dermatologists were the most important sources of psoriasis information. People having participated more than once in CHT presented better HL scores and also higher self-management (skill and technique acquisition) and more psoriasis knowledge (effect-size: 0.75).

Conclusions

Psoriasis education by HCP seems important for HL and psoriasis knowledge. Patients may need multiple approaches and repetitions over time to be health literate and effective self-managers.

Keywords:

• Climate Helio Therapy
• health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ)
• psoriasis education
• self-management support

Acknowledgments

We thank the patients who participated in the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The University of Oslo, Norway financed the study.