Health literacy and patient empowerment: separating con-joined twins in the context of chronic low back pain.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

While health literacy has been widely considered key to patient empowerment, an alternative approach separates both concepts and distinguishes between different types of patients according to their levels of health literacy and empowerment. These types are deemed to vary in their health-related actions and outcomes. In this study, we examine the relationship between health literacy and patient empowerment and compare socio-demographic characteristics, health-related activities, and health outcomes in four types of patients suffering from chronic low back pain (cLBP).

Methods

In a cross-sectional study, 273 cLBP patients from four Swiss cantons (Vaud, Geneva, Fribourg, Ticino) and Lombardy (Italy) were invited by their healthcare providers to complete a self-admini

SUBMITTER: Camerini AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4332654 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature