Nurses' Health Literacy and Patient-Centered Care Competencies in Cardiovascular Disease Management: A Literature Review

The management of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is increasingly complex, necessitating improved health management by both patients and providers. This literature review examines the impact of health literacy, patient-centered care, and nurses' competencies in addressing the challenges posed by CVDs. A literature search was conducted using databases including PubMed, EBSCOhost, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar. The search focused on studies published within the last 20 years, using MESH terms and keywords such as "health literacy competency," "patient-centered care," and "nurses." The review emphasizes that higher levels of health literacy in the general population contribute to better overall health, influencing social determinants, health behavior, and health promotion. Limited health literacy is associated with adverse outcomes, including higher medical costs and lower quality health services. Nurses play a crucial role in recognizing the impact of limited health literacy and utilizing universal health literacy precautions. Patient-centered care has demonstrated benefits in managing chronic illnesses like CVDs, improving patient involvement, treatment adherence, and satisfaction. Effective communication, developing partnerships, and health promotion are key objectives in patient- centered care delivery.