Key result
Higher health literacy is linked to better self-care behaviors and confidence in hypertensive patients.
Why the study?
Hypertension is a major public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries, and adequate health literacy is considered essential for self-care behaviors.
Cross-Sectional (n=500)
Yes
Effect estimate: β = 0.042 (95% CI 0.028-0.056)
p-value: p=<0.001
Higher functional health literacy is significantly associated with better self-care behaviors, including management, maintenance, and confidence, among hypertensive patients in primary care.
Health literacy may aid self-care in hypertension; leaves open whether interventions improve outcomes in primary care.
Hypertension remains a major public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries. Adequate health literacy is considered crucial for performing effective self-care behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the association between health literacy and different dimensions of self-care behaviors among hypertensive patients in primary healthcare settings in Northeast Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and June 2025 among 500 hypertensive patients selected through multi-stage cluster sampling from Comprehensive Health Service Centers in Mashhad, Northeast Iran. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Persian version of the Hypertension Self-Care Profile (20 items), and the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses, with self-care dimensions as dependent variables and health literacy as the primary predictor, adjusting for demographic covariates. The mean health literacy score was 72.98 ± 27.0, with 68.2% of participants having adequate health literacy. Health literacy was significantly and positively associated with all self-care behaviors dimensions: Management Behaviors ( r = 0.38, β = 0.042, 95% CI: 0.028–0.056, p < 0.001), Maintenance Behaviors ( r = 0.29, β = 0.068, 95% CI: 0.045–0.091, p < 0.001), and Self-Care Confidence ( r = 0.22, β = 0.021, 95% CI: 0.012–0.030, p < 0.001). Older age and higher educational attainment were also independently associated with better self-care behaviors. The regression models explained 24–31% of the variance in the individual self-care dimensions (adjusted R² = 0.24 for Self-Care Confidence, 0.28 for Management Behaviors, and 0.31 for Maintenance Behaviors). Health literacy, particularly its functional aspects, is significantly associated with better self-care behaviors among hypertensive patients in primary care. Targeted interventions focusing on improving functional health literacy and disease management skills — especially among younger and less-educated patients are recommended to enhance hypertension control in Iran.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Sedghi et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Hypertension (n=500). Health literacy vs. Lower health literacy was evaluated on Management Behaviors (dimension of self-care behaviors) (β = 0.042, 95% CI 0.028-0.056, p=<0.001). Higher health literacy was significantly and positively associated with better self-care behaviors, including management behaviors, maintenance behaviors, and self-care confidence among hypertensive patients.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: