Health literacy for caregivers of elders with alzheimer’s disease

Descriptive study with a quantitative and qualitative approach, with health literacy as a theoretical framework. Research carried out with 42 informal caregivers of elders with Alzheimer’s from a geriatrics outpatient clinic, using a questionnaire with sociodemographic data and the Health Literacy instrument.

Results:

The functional and conceptual levels were more prevalent, with regards to elders with Alzheimer’s, than the empowering level. Caregivers searched, evaluated, and used health information and expressed abilities to use and judge the information received.

Final considerations:

The predominance of categories in the cognitive level of learning indicates the need to strengthen the empowering level of these caregivers. Health literacy made it possible to reveal the demands of informal caregivers of elders with Alzheimer’s, evaluating their individual ability to offer this type of assistance. It is also a tool capable of reaching better health results.

Descriptors:
Health Literacy; Caregivers; Aged; Alzheimer Disease; Nursing

FL questions	Categories	Statements
Ease to understand the information sought Disagreement between pieces of information found Understanding of the information sought	C13: care with the medication - indications, effect, and administration	What are the adverse effects of the medications she uses? (P1) What are the medications that are causing the effects? (P1) What is each medication for? (P5)
	C15: dealing with the elder	How would we deal with the progression? (P24)
	C16: diet administration	What can I give her to eat? I want to vary but I don't know what I can replace. (P41)
	C19: remaining doubts	A doubt I still have now. (P5)
	C24: knowledge about medication (indications, action, and effects)	Knowing how the medication acts, each medication the elder takes, what are they for and what are their effects. (P2)
	C25: attention and patience with the elder	Knowing how to deal with the disease and the elder. And especially knowing how to treat the elder. (P4)
	C26: knowledge about the disease	Being aware of the development of the disease so you're prepared to monitor the stages. (P16)

CL questions	Categories	Statements
First source of information Satisfaction with the first source of information Search for other information sources	C17: Difficult - lacks guidance and acceptance	It was really difficult. There is no medication, no doctor, no nothing. Everything is difficult and takes time. (P6) Receiving this information is painful, knowing there will be no result, that it only ends with death. (P38)
	C18: satisfaction	We arrive without a direction, without knowing where to turn. They give us the information on how it will evolve. To start and receive guidance is an excellent field. (P26)
	C21: negative experience with books	The books should be more accessible to the lay public. I didn't like it because it is targeted only at doctors. I had to read it with a dictionary by my side. (P24)
	C22: Information from the health services	The team is excellent. I really like the information. (P1) People who are capable to do it, who studied and are prepared. (P38) They teach us a lot. (P8)
	C23: information from the Internet	There is more information and I can spend more time researching. (P34) Because it said a lot and it was all very much like things people had told be before. (P11)
Difference after the information was received	C20: positive experiences with books	I liked reading. Reading books really helped getting to know how to care better for my mom and especially how to understand her disease. (P1)
	C27: learning	I started to understand the disease, its causes and effects. (P10)
	C28: taking better care	So I could learn where to recognize, where to search and what to do, how to act. (P30)

EL questions	Categories	Statements
Sharing the preoccupation with the family Sharing the information with the family Differences after sharing the information	C29: passing the information	Where we live, there are many elders, and I pass the information and guide other people who also care for elders. (P22)
Differences after participating in a group	C30: learning	You exchange knowledge and experiences, and that's really important. (P41)
Differences after participating in a group	C31: psychological support	You receive psychological support from the group. (P30)

Variables	n	%
Sex
Female	40	95.2
Male	02	4.8
Age
30-39	12	28.5
40-49	13	31.0
50-59	13	31.0
> 60	04	9.5
Marital Status
Married/Stable Union	23	54.7
Single	13	31.0
Separated/divorced	05	11.9
Widower	01	2.4
Children
None	12	28.5
1-2	20	47.7
≥ 3	10	23.8
Educational level (tears of study)
< 8	04	9.5
8-12	26	62.0
> 12	12	28.5
Profession
None	22	52.4
From the health field	05	11.9
Others (hairdresser, self-employed, chartered accountant, civil engineer, journalist, graduated in Portuguese, and graduated in pedagogy)	15	35.7
Current occupation
Housekeeper and elder caregiver	23	54.7
Self-employed	08	19.1
From the health field	03	7.1
Others (retired, craftsperson, salesperson, public worker, production auxiliary)	08	19.1
Mean family income
< 1 minimum wage	07	16.7
2-3 minimum wages	23	54.7
> 3 minimum wages	12	28.6
Religion
Catholic	31	73.8
Others (evangelical, Jehovah's witness)	09	21.4
None	02	4.8

Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem SGA Norte Quadra 603 Conj. "B" - Av. L2 Norte 70830-102 Brasília, DF, Brasil, Tel.: (55 61) 3226-0653, Fax: (55 61) 3225-4473 - Brasília - DF - Brazil
E-mail: reben@abennacional.org.br

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[1] Corresponding author: Jamille Pinheiro Cunha Queiroz E-mail: jamillepcunha@hotmail.com