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Assessing health literacy in transplant patients to better tailor the content of their therapeutic education: an observational study
  1. Clara Lebret1,
  2. Brendan Le Daré1,2,
  3. Florian Laval1,
  4. Cécile Vigneau3,
  5. Astrid BACLE1,3
  1. 1 Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, Service Hospitalo-Universitaire de Pharmacie, Rennes, France
  2. 2 INSERM, INRAE, Institut NuMeCan (Nutrition, Metabolisms and Cancer), Réseau PREVITOX, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France, NuMeCan, Rennes, France, France
  3. 3 Univ Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail), Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Rennes 1, Laboratoire de Biopharmacie et Pharmacie Clinique, Rennes Cedex, France
  1. Correspondence to Dr Astrid BACLE; astrid.bacle{at}univ-rennes1.fr

Abstract

Objectives Evaluate health literacy in transplant patients to better tailor the content of their continuing therapeutic education.

Methods A 20-item questionnaire divided into five themes (sport/recreation, dietary measures, hygiene measures, recognition of the signs of graft rejection and medication management) was sent to transplant patient associations. Participants' responses (a score out of 20 points), were analysed according to demographic characteristics, transplanted organ (kidney, liver or heart), type of donor (living or deceased), participation in a therapeutic patient education (TPE) programme, management of end-stage renal disease (with or without dialysis) and the date of transplant.

Results 327 individuals completed the questionnaires (mean age 63.3±12.7 years, mean time post-transplant 13.1±12.1 years). From 2 years after transplantation, the patients' score decreases significantly compared with the score obtained at hospital discharge. Patients who received TPE had significantly higher scores than patients who did not receive it, but only in the first 2 years post-transplant. The scores were different depending on the organs transplanted. Patients' knowledge varied according to the theme; the percentage of errors being higher for questions related to hygienic and dietary rules.

Conclusion These findings highlight the importance of the role of the clinical pharmacist in maintaining the transplant recipient’s health literacy level over time to increase graft life. We show the topics on which pharmacists must acquire solid knowledge to best meet the needs of transplant patients.

  • education
  • CLINICAL MEDICINE
  • EDUCATION, PHARMACY
  • TRANSPLANTATION
  • PUBLIC HEALTH

Data availability statement

All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.

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Data availability statement

All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.

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