| Title, authors, country and year of publication |
Method/level of evidence |
Instrument used |
Objective |
Results |
| Functional health literacy and knowledge of renal patients on pre-dialytic treatment. Moraes KL, Brasil VV, Oliveira GF, Cordeiro JABL, Silva AMTC, Boaventura RP, et al. Brazil, 2017 |
Cross-sectional/ VI |
Brief test of health literacy in adults (BTOFHLA) |
To analyze FHL* and knowledge about chronic kidney disease in patients undergoing pre-dialysis treatment. |
The average age of the interviewees was 63 (30-90) years, and the test was not limited by age. All presented inadequate health literacy. |
| Limited health literacy in advanced kidney disease Dominic M. Taylor et al UK, 2016. |
Multi-center, prospective cohort / IV |
Single-Item Literacy Screener (SILS) |
To determine the prevalence of limited FHL and its associations with demographics, comorbidity, and socioeconomic status in patients at three different stages of treatment: early dialysis, kidney transplant waiting list, and kidney transplantation. |
The age of patients in the study with advanced kidney disease ranged from 18 to 75 years. FHL was limited as defined by SILS. |
| Development of a health literacy questionnaire for Taiwanese hemodialysis patients. Chung-liang Shih, Tuan-hsun Chang, Dana A. Jensen and Chiung-hsuan Chiu. Taiwan, 2016. |
Methodology |
Health literacy questionnaire for Taiwanese hemodialysis patients |
(1) A methodological study of the construction and validation of an instrument for measuring FHL; (2) to assess the level of health literacy of the hemodialysis population in Taiwan using the developed tool. |
The sample consisted of individuals older than 18, and was not specific to the elderly population. The knowledge of hemodialysis patients about daily practices is satisfactory, while critical health literacy is weak. |
| A Cross-Sectional Comparison of Health Literacy Deficits Among Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease. Kelly Lambert, Judy Mullan, Kylie Mansfield & Maureen Lonergan. Autralia,2015. |
Descriptive cross-sectional / VI |
Health Literacy Management Scale (HeLMS) |
To investigate the types and extent of health literacy deficits of chronic kidney patients and to identify associations between the characteristics of the patients and FHL domains measured by HeLMS. |
The mean age of the participants was 64.1 years, and while the elderly were included, the application of the test was not limited to this public. This study identified inadequate health literacy - especially in the areas related to health care needs, understanding of health information, social support, and socioeconomic factors. |
| Relationship between Health Literacy and Kidney Function. Radhika Devraj, Matthew Borrego, A Mary Vilay, Elisa J. Gordon, Junvie Pailden, Bruce Horowitz. USA, 2015. |
Observational Cross-sectional/VI |
Newest Vital Sign (NVS) |
To evaluate the relationship between FHL and estimated glomerular filtration rate. |
The age of the participants ranged from 21 to 90 years. The prevalence of limited FHL was 63%, with a small but significant association between FHL and the estimated glomerular filtration rate. |
| Evaluation of a single-item screening question to detect limited health literacy in peritoneal dialysis patients. Deepika Jain, HeenaSheth, Filitsa H. Bender, Steven D. Weisbord, Jamie A. Green USA, 2014. |
Cohort/ IV |
Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) |
To evaluate the health literacy of 31 patients in peritoneal dialysis. |
Age ranged from 21 - 79 years, and the prevalence of limited health literacy was 16%. |
| Limited health literacy is associated with low glomerular filtration in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) study. Ana C. Ricardo et al. USA, 2014. |
Cohort/ IV |
Short Test of Health Literacy in Adults (STOFHLA) |
Assess the associations between limited health literacy with renal function and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. |
Age ranged from 21-74 years and those with limited FHL were more likely to be older than participants with adequate health literacy. |
| Assessing health literacy in renal failure and kidney transplant patients. Wendy Escobedo, Penny Weismuller. USA, 2013. |
Cross-sectional/ VI |
Newest Vital Sign (NVS) |
To identify the level of health literacy of patients treated at a suburban transplant center using the NVS tool. |
The age range of the participants was 21 to 73 years. Of the 44 participants, 18 (41%) had scores indicating the probability of limited health literacy. |
| Communicative and critical health literacy, and self-management behaviors in end-stage renal disease patients with diabetes on hemodialysis. Alden Yuanhong Lai, Hirono Ishikawa, Takahiro Kiuchi, NandakumarMooppil, KonstadinaGriva Singapore, 2013. |
Randomized controlled / II |
Functional, Communicative and Critical Health Literacy (FCCHL) |
To explore functional, communicative and critical health literacy among patients with CKD with diabetes and to examine their specific relationships with self-management behaviors. |
The age of the participants was 78 years. Self-management in patients with CKD with diabetes was associated with communicative and critical FHL, but not functional FHL. |
| Health literacy associated with blood pressure but not other cardiovascular disease risk factors among dialysis patients Gbemisola A. Adeseun, Christine C. Bonney and Sylvia E. Rosas USA, 2012. |
Cross-sectional/VI |
Short Test of Health Literacy in Adults (STOFHLA) |
To examine the relationship between literacy in health and cardiovascular risk factors |
The mean age was 51.6 years (± 10.3 for inadequate FHL and ± 13.2 for participants with adequate FHL). The majority of participants had adequate health literacy while 21% had limited health literacy. |
| Prevalence and demographic and clinical associations of health literacy in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Jamie A. Green et al. USA, 2011. |
Cross-sectional |
Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) |
To analyze the prevalence of limited FHL and the association with demographic and clinical characteristics in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. |
The median age was 64 years (56-73). Of the 260 patients who completed the REALM, 41 demonstrated limited health knowledge. |
| Development and results of a kidney disease knowledge survey given to patients with CKD. Julie A. Wright, Kenneth A. Wallston, Tom A. Elasy, T. Alp Ikizler and Kerri L. Cavanaugh. USA, 2011. |
Cross-sectional/VI |
Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) |
To develop valid and reliable research to measure the specific knowledge of individuals on conservative treatment of renal disease and to describe the characteristics associated with low knowledge. |
The median age of participants was 58 (percentile 25-75, 46-68) years. Limited literacy was 77%. |
| Low health literacy associates with increased mortality in ESRD.Kerri L. Cavanaugh. USA, 2010. |
Prospective cohort |
Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) |
To describe the prevalence of limited health literacy and its association with mortality risk in hemodialysis patients |
The median age was 62.0 years. Compared with adequate literacy, limited health knowledge was associated with an increased risk of death. |
| Perceived susceptibility to chronic kidney disease among high-risk patients seen in primary care practices L. Ebony Boulware, Kathryn A. Carson, Misty U. Troll, Neil R. Powe and Lisa A. Coope. USA, 2009. |
Randomized controlled/II |
Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) |
To assess the perception of risk and concern regarding the development or progression of CKD among high-risk patients receiving primary care. |
Participants had diverse demographic characteristics, with a high proportion of participants aged 60 years or over, who were female and African American or black. Many patients were at high risk for the development or progression of CKD. |
| Health literacy and access to kidney transplantation. Vanessa Grubbs, Steven E. Gregorich, Eliseo J. Perez-Stable, and Chi-yuan Hsu. USA, 2009. |
Cross-sectional |
Test of Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA) |
Examining health literacy in patients with end-stage kidney disease |
Age ranged from 18 to 75 years. About one-third (32.3%) of the participants had poor health literacy. |
