Functional health literacy in renal replacement therapy: An integrative review

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the instruments available to identify the functional health literacy level of patients submitted to renal replacement therapy. Methods: Integrative review carried out by searching publications in the PubMed, Scientifi c Electronic Library Online, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Web of Science databases between October 2017 and January 2018. Full original articles in English, Spanish, or Portuguese made available from 2010 to the moment the search was performed were included. The descriptors used in the search were hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, transplantation, renal dialysis patient information, and health literacy. Results: Sixteen out of the 4,286 studies found were included to be analyzed. It was observed that 12 different instruments were used, with the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine and the Newest Vital Sign being the most frequently used tools, applied in four and three studies, respectively. Twelve instruments were applied in patients submitted to hemodialysis, three in those who underwent peritoneal analysis, and three were specifi c to patients who went through kidney transplant. The most recent tools have assessed social aspects, self-care, and management and understanding capacity in patients under renal replacement therapy. Conclusion: The twelve instruments to measure functional health literacy in patients under renal replacement therapy show satisfactory psychometric properties, but only one is validated to be used in Brazil. The insuffi cient use of tools to evaluate literacy in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis was noteworthy.