Adult Cancer Survivors’ Health Literacy Skills and Their Management of Chronic Issues Secondary to Oncologic Treatments in Australia

Abstract

<p><b>Background</b></p> <p>Health literacy is an important determinant of health outcome for adult cancer survivors and their management of chronic issues secondary to oncologic treatments. It is postulated that the cancer survivors’ health literacy skills are inversely correlated to their long-term management of sustained and widespread health-related issues after the conclusion of cancer treatments. Health literacy embodies a set of skills that transcends cancer survivors’ cognitive abilities. It extends to community-based health literacy interventions, such as home visits; education to participate in health screening initiatives and preventive health programs. Cancer survivors are often impacted by complex and long-term health care needs that require decision making in a highly stressful environment. Although there has been limited research in this field, the rising number of Australian cancer survivors requires further and more robust investigations on their health literacy skills for the management of long-term health issues.</p> <p>This is the first Australian study exploring the level of health literacy of cancer survivors and their management skills using the internationally validated Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ). The study addressed the different needs of cancer survivors including their individuals’ literacy skills, their ability to engage with their health care providers; the ability to appraise relevant information, and to apply that information to their daily life.</p> <p><b>Aims and objectives</b></p> <p>The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of health literacy of Australian adult cancer survivors attending two private multidisciplinary clinics and their management of health issues secondary to oncologic treatments. The objective was to provide recommendations, based on the results, aimed at improving survivors’ health literacy levels and their management skills of chronic health issues after the conclusion of cancer treatments.</p> <p><b>Research question</b></p> <p>The study research questions were: What is the level of health literacy of adult cancer survivors? What is the level of health literacy of adult cancer survivors and their management skills of chronic issues secondary to oncologic treatments?</p>