Health literacy and therapeutic adherence of patients undergoing oral antineoplastic chemotherapy: a correlational study

ABSTRACT Objective: to correlate the levels of health literacy, therapeutic adherence, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of adults with cancer undergoing oral antineoplastic therapy. Method: this is a cross-sectional, correlational study conducted in the oncology outpatient clini...

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Main Authors: Yasmin Araujo Braz, Maria Meimei Brevidelli, Edvane Birelo Lopes De Domenico
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul 2025-08-01
Series:Revista Gaúcha de Enfermagem
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Online Access:http://revodonto.bvsalud.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1983-14472025000200401&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Yasmin Araujo Braz
Maria Meimei Brevidelli
Edvane Birelo Lopes De Domenico
author_facet Yasmin Araujo Braz
Maria Meimei Brevidelli
Edvane Birelo Lopes De Domenico
author_sort Yasmin Araujo Braz
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Objective: to correlate the levels of health literacy, therapeutic adherence, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of adults with cancer undergoing oral antineoplastic therapy. Method: this is a cross-sectional, correlational study conducted in the oncology outpatient clinics of a philanthropic general hospital in São Paulo. Instruments used included a sample characterization form, Treatment Adherence Measure and the Brazilian version of the European Health Literacy Survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: the sample consisted of 100 patients: 68% were 51 years of age or older; 52% without comorbidities and were taking three or more medications daily; 53% had 11 years of education or more; and 49% were retired or pensioners. Inadequate literacy was found in 52.9%, problematic in 24.1%, sufficient in 20.7% and excellent in 2.3%. The mean adherence was 5.6 (SD= 0.7), and among those with non-adherence, 58% did not comply with the administration schedule. A statistically significant positive relationship was found between health literacy and education level, and a negative relationship between health literacy and the frequency of medication administration. Conclusion: health literacy was characterized as inadequate or problematic. The score related to adherence to oral chemotherapy was high. Low general health literacy did not influence adherence to the oral antineoplastic therapeutic regimen.
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spelling doaj-art-9c0c047b0a8b4dbc9aba4d3cbebf93f82025-08-26T07:37:02ZengUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulRevista Gaúcha de Enfermagem1983-14472025-08-0146spe110.1590/1983-1447.2025.20250018.enHealth literacy and therapeutic adherence of patients undergoing oral antineoplastic chemotherapy: a correlational studyYasmin Araujo Brazhttps://orcid.org/0009-0003-9789-7378Maria Meimei Brevidellihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2202-9221Edvane Birelo Lopes De Domenicohttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7455-1727ABSTRACT Objective: to correlate the levels of health literacy, therapeutic adherence, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of adults with cancer undergoing oral antineoplastic therapy. Method: this is a cross-sectional, correlational study conducted in the oncology outpatient clinics of a philanthropic general hospital in São Paulo. Instruments used included a sample characterization form, Treatment Adherence Measure and the Brazilian version of the European Health Literacy Survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: the sample consisted of 100 patients: 68% were 51 years of age or older; 52% without comorbidities and were taking three or more medications daily; 53% had 11 years of education or more; and 49% were retired or pensioners. Inadequate literacy was found in 52.9%, problematic in 24.1%, sufficient in 20.7% and excellent in 2.3%. The mean adherence was 5.6 (SD= 0.7), and among those with non-adherence, 58% did not comply with the administration schedule. A statistically significant positive relationship was found between health literacy and education level, and a negative relationship between health literacy and the frequency of medication administration. Conclusion: health literacy was characterized as inadequate or problematic. The score related to adherence to oral chemotherapy was high. Low general health literacy did not influence adherence to the oral antineoplastic therapeutic regimen.http://revodonto.bvsalud.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1983-14472025000200401&lng=en&tlng=enHealth LiteracyMedication AdherenceAntineoplasticNeoplasmPatient-Reported Outcome Measures
spellingShingle Yasmin Araujo Braz
Maria Meimei Brevidelli
Edvane Birelo Lopes De Domenico
Health literacy and therapeutic adherence of patients undergoing oral antineoplastic chemotherapy: a correlational study
Revista Gaúcha de Enfermagem
Health Literacy
Medication Adherence
Antineoplastic
Neoplasm
Patient-Reported Outcome Measures
title Health literacy and therapeutic adherence of patients undergoing oral antineoplastic chemotherapy: a correlational study
title_full Health literacy and therapeutic adherence of patients undergoing oral antineoplastic chemotherapy: a correlational study
title_fullStr Health literacy and therapeutic adherence of patients undergoing oral antineoplastic chemotherapy: a correlational study
title_full_unstemmed Health literacy and therapeutic adherence of patients undergoing oral antineoplastic chemotherapy: a correlational study
title_short Health literacy and therapeutic adherence of patients undergoing oral antineoplastic chemotherapy: a correlational study
title_sort health literacy and therapeutic adherence of patients undergoing oral antineoplastic chemotherapy a correlational study
topic Health Literacy
Medication Adherence
Antineoplastic
Neoplasm
Patient-Reported Outcome Measures
url http://revodonto.bvsalud.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1983-14472025000200401&lng=en&tlng=en
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AT edvanebirelolopesdedomenico healthliteracyandtherapeuticadherenceofpatientsundergoingoralantineoplasticchemotherapyacorrelationalstudy