Letramento em saúde: aplicação do SAHLPA-18 em portadores de síndrome coronariana aguda

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are illnesses that affect the heart and blood vessels with high national and international mortality rates. Objectives: To assess the health literacy (HL) of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) admitted to a high-complexity public hospital in the interior of Minas Gerais, through the application of the instrument Short Assessment of Health Literacy for Portuguese Speaking Adults (SAHLPA-18). Methodology: Cross-sectional and retrospective study, from the Good Clinical Practices (BPC) project developed in a high complexity hospital. One hundred and seventy-five records of patients with ACS were considered, in which the profile and SAHLPA-18 were analyzed. Results: As a result, even though 51.43% of the participants had completed elementary school or higher education, 55.43% of the 175 participants included (97 among 175; 95%IC: 48.07-62.79), were considered to have inadequate HL. Discussion: It was assumed that the level of education of the sample individuals would directly impact the HL, however, even with a good level of formal education, individuals are not always able to effectively understand the disease and their health status. Conclusion: Hence, it’s evident that HL is an important tool for health promotion and it’s essential that professionals in this area identify the HL level of individuals so that they can effectively plan successful educational actions.