Journal article
Information seeking behavior and perceived health literacy of family caregivers of persons living with a chronic condition. The case of spinal cord injury in Switzerland.
- Diviani N Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Frohburgstrasse 3, 6002 Lucerne, Switzerland; Swiss Paraplegic Research, Guido A. Zäch Strasse 4, 6207 Nottwil, Switzerland.
- Zanini C Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Frohburgstrasse 3, 6002 Lucerne, Switzerland; Swiss Paraplegic Research, Guido A. Zäch Strasse 4, 6207 Nottwil, Switzerland. Electronic address: claudia.zanini@paraplegie.ch.
- Jaks R Swiss Paraplegic Research, Guido A. Zäch Strasse 4, 6207 Nottwil, Switzerland.
- Brach M Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Frohburgstrasse 3, 6002 Lucerne, Switzerland; Swiss Paraplegic Research, Guido A. Zäch Strasse 4, 6207 Nottwil, Switzerland.
- Gemperli A Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Frohburgstrasse 3, 6002 Lucerne, Switzerland; Swiss Paraplegic Research, Guido A. Zäch Strasse 4, 6207 Nottwil, Switzerland.
- Rubinelli S Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Frohburgstrasse 3, 6002 Lucerne, Switzerland; Swiss Paraplegic Research, Guido A. Zäch Strasse 4, 6207 Nottwil, Switzerland.
- 2020-02-27
Published in:
- Patient education and counseling. - 2020
Caregiver burden
Caregiver outcomes
Family caregivers
Health literacy
Information seeking
Paraplegia
Tetraplegia
English
OBJECTIVE
To examine the information seeking behavior and health literacy of caregivers of individuals living with spinal cord injury in Switzerland and their impact on the caregiving experience.
METHODS
Nationwide survey of family caregivers of people with spinal cord injury (N = 717). Caregivers aged 18+ who assisted with activities of daily living were included. Self-reported information seeking behavior, including topics, preferred sources, and health literacy were assessed and analyzed.
RESULTS
Health professionals were the most trusted source of information. Among information-seekers, higher health literacy levels were shown to be associated with lower subjective caregiver burden and, in turn, with higher caregivers' satisfaction with own health.
CONCLUSION
Caregivers use information on different topics and coming from different sources. In order for information to improve the caregiving experience, however, caregivers need health literacy skills to make sense of it.
PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS
Building health literacy is a promising approach to support caregivers in their activities, reduce their subjective burden, and even to improve their health. Interventions should consider involving health professionals, as the most trusted source of information, and address both health-related and more practical issues.
To examine the information seeking behavior and health literacy of caregivers of individuals living with spinal cord injury in Switzerland and their impact on the caregiving experience.
METHODS
Nationwide survey of family caregivers of people with spinal cord injury (N = 717). Caregivers aged 18+ who assisted with activities of daily living were included. Self-reported information seeking behavior, including topics, preferred sources, and health literacy were assessed and analyzed.
RESULTS
Health professionals were the most trusted source of information. Among information-seekers, higher health literacy levels were shown to be associated with lower subjective caregiver burden and, in turn, with higher caregivers' satisfaction with own health.
CONCLUSION
Caregivers use information on different topics and coming from different sources. In order for information to improve the caregiving experience, however, caregivers need health literacy skills to make sense of it.
PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS
Building health literacy is a promising approach to support caregivers in their activities, reduce their subjective burden, and even to improve their health. Interventions should consider involving health professionals, as the most trusted source of information, and address both health-related and more practical issues.
- Language
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- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
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- DOI 10.1016/j.pec.2020.02.024
- PMID 32098740
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/208613
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