A systematic review of functional health literacy and health outcomes among diabetes type ii and hypertensive patients

Health literacy is a rapidly growing field involving interdisciplinary audience. Understanding the contributing factors and their influence on individual health literacy can help to assess their ability to take responsibility for one’s own health as well as of one’s family and community. Health literacy is an important domain to be considered while management of chronic diseases including diabetes and hypertension. The aim of this review paper is to systematically identify the barriers and interventions related to functional health literacy among diabetics and hypertensive patients in developed and developing countries as well as Pakistan in order to improve health literacy. A total of 62 studies were retrieved from databases related to functional health literacy among diabetes type II and hypertensive patients and systematically analyzed. The review concluded that extensive interventions are required to improve functional health literacy among chronic disease patients. Healthcare providers should recognize barriers related to functional health literacy such as inadequate health literacy level and social support. Interventions must be devised focusing on self-efficacy, patient satisfaction, coping skills, health literacy and perceptions of social support for management of chronic disease patients.