Letramento funcional em saúde e doenças crônicas não transmissíveis: uma revisão da literatura.

Abstract

Given the increasing prevalence of Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), especially Diabetes Mellitus and Systemic Arterial Hypertension, the knowledge and ability to understand medical information for the maintenance of health status becomes important, as it is highly significant for people to receive instructions that can be effectively put into practice. OBJECTIVE: To analyze scientific publications related to functional health literacy about chronic noncommunicable diseases for the promotion of self-care. METHODOLOGY: This is an exploratory, descriptive and cross-sectional study that consisted of an analysis of the literature published in several relevant databases from 2012 to 2022. The research was guided by the question: Can Functional Health Literacy influence people with Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases,

especially Diabetes Mellitus and Systemic Arterial Hypertension, to promote quality self- care? Four descriptors were chosen, in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, namely: "Health

Literacy"; "Chronic Disease"; "Systemic Arterial Hypertension", and "Diabetes Mellitus", using the Boolean operators "AND" and "OR". RESULTS: This literature review identified 21 articles published in the last 10 years. After analyzing the articles, the problems were identified in classes: CLASS I - Health literacy and low education directly imply in the reduction of self-care; CLASS II - Promoting health education improves the disposition to self-care; CLASS III - Advanced age contributes to low health literacy. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: Inadequate functional health literacy is prevalent and is associated with undesirable clinical outcomes that unfavorably impact the natural history of several Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases, including Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and Systemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH). Although inadequate LFS is common, in patients with low education, and advanced age any individual can be affected.