NEVES, E. L. F.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/6721906405755393; NEVES, Eloisa Louhany Feitosa das.
Resumo:
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.