Role of health literacy profiles in fluid management of individuals receiving haemodialysis: A cross-sectional study

AimsTo identify health literacy profiles in individuals receiving haemodialysis and to explore how these profiles interact with individuals' self-efficacy, engagement with traditional dietary habits, self-reported fluid restriction and relative-interdialytic weight gain.DesignA cross-sectional study engaging nephrology departments from four hospitals in Guangdong Province, China.MethodsA sample of 433 individuals receiving haemodialysis participated between December 2018 and July 2019. We assessed health literacy, self-efficacy and self-reported fluid restriction using the Health Literacy Questionnaire, the Fluid Self-efficacy Scale and the Fluid Adherence Subscale, respectively. Traditional dietary habits, including daily tea drinking, soup drinking and preserved food consumption, were measured using three yes/no questions. Relative-interdialytic weight gain was calculated by dividing the mean interdialytic weight gain (from three recent intervals) by dry weight. Latent profile analysis and structural equation modelling were performed.ResultsThree health literacy profiles were identified: low, moderate and high. Compared to those in the low health literacy profile, individuals in high and moderate health literacy profiles demonstrated an indirect association with reduced relative-interdialytic weight gain. This reduction can be attributed to their higher self-efficacy levels, decreased reliance on dietary habits and higher self-reported fluid restrictions.ConclusionsMost participants exhibited either low or moderate levels of health literacy. Improving health literacy has the potential to promote self-efficacy and foster effective fluid restriction, ultimately leading to a reduction in relative-interdialytic weight gain in individuals receiving haemodialysis.ImpactThis study reveals heterogeneity in health literacy levels among individuals receiving haemodialysis and illuminates the connections between an individual's entire spectrum of health literacy and fluid management. These findings provide valuable insights for developing person-centred fluid management interventions, especially for individuals with diverse cultural dietary backgrounds within the haemodialysis population.Reporting MethodWe adhered to the STROBE guideline.Patient or Public ContributionPatients were included only for collecting their data.