Korean J Adult Nurs.  2018 Dec;30(6):565-576. 10.7475/kjan.2018.30.6.565.

Associations among Health Literacy, Psychosocial Factors, and Cancer-related Health Actions: A Systematic Literature Review

• Kim EJ
• Kim SH

• KMID: 2429764
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2018.30.6.565

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of the study was to systematically review the associations among health literacy, psychosocial factors, and cancer-related health actions.
METHODS
PubMed, CINAHL, PsycARTICLES, KISS, RISS, and KoreaMed were searched for articles published between January 2000 and March 2018. Fourteen studies were identified and reviewed for the associations among the variables based on Von Wagner's framework on health literacy and health actions. Two researchers reviewed the articles independently using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.
RESULTS
Of the 14 relevant studies, five studies analyzed all of the associations among health literacy, motivational or volitional factors, and cancer-related health actions. Eleven studies investigated the association between health literacy and motivational factors, including knowledge (n=11) and attitudes (n=6). Four studies investigated the association between health literacy and volitional factors, including self-efficacy (n=4) and efforts to search cancer-related information (n=1).
CONCLUSION
The possible paths between health literacy and cancer-related health actions mediated through the psychosocial variables were identified. Further research is warranted to substantiate the mediating pathways of the associations between health literacy and cancer-related health actions.

MeSH Terms

Health Behavior
Health Literacy*
Negotiating
Psychology*

Figure

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  Figure 1. Findings of the literature based on the framework of the Von Wagner's health literacy and health action.

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  Figure 2. PRISMA flow diagram.

Reference

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Appendix 1. Studies Included in Systematic Review

A1. Arnold CL, Rademaker A, Bailey SC, Esparza JM, Reynolds C, Liu D, et al. Literacy barriers to colorectal cancer screening in community clinics. Journal of Health Communication. 2012; 17(sup3):252–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2012.713441.

A2. Dolan NC, Ferreira MR, Davis TC, Fitzgibbon ML, Rademaker A, Liu D, et al. Colorectal cancer screening knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs among veterans: does literacy make a difference? Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2004; 22(13):2617–22. https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.2004.10.149.

A3. Guerra CE, Krumholz M, Shea JA. Literacy and knowledge, attitudes and behavior about mammography in Latinas. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. 2005; 16(1):152–66. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2005.0012005.0012.

A4. Hwang H. Health literacy, cancer knowledge, and cancer preventive behaviors among rural older adults. Asian Oncology Nursing. 2016; 16(4):234–41. https://doi.org/10.5388/aon.2016.16.4.23.

A5. Hwang H. Impacts of colorectal cancer knowledge and health literacy on self-management behaviors among elderly women in rural areas. Korean Journal of Adult Nursing. 2017; 29(5):527–35. https://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2017.29.5.527.

A6. Kim NS, Lee KE. Factors affecting cancer preventive behavior in middle-aged people. Korean Academy of Fundamen-tals of Nursing. 2014; 21(1):29–38. https://doi.org/10.7739/jkafn.2014.21.1.29.

A7. Lee SYD, Tsai TI, Tsai YW, Kuo KN. Health literacy and women's health-related behaviors in Taiwan. Health Education & Behavior. 2012; 39(2):210–8. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198111413126.

A8. Morris NS, Field TS, Wagner JL, Cutrona SL, Robin DW, Gaglio B, et al. The association between health literacy and cancer-related attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge. Journal of Health Communication. 2013; 18(sup1):223–41. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2013.825667.

A9. Peterson NB, Dwyer KA, Mulvaney SA, Dietrich MS, Roth-man RL. The influence of health literacy on colorectal cancer screening knowledge, beliefs and behavior. Journal of the National Medical Association. 2007; 99(10):1105–12.

A10. Rust CF, Davis C, Moore MR. Medication adherence skills training for African-American breast cancer survivors: the effects on health literacy, medication adherence, and self-efficacy. Social Work in Health Care. 2015; 54(1):33–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2012.713441.

A11. Schapira MM, Neuner J, Fletcher KE, Gilligan MA, Hayes E, Laud P. The relationship of health numeracy to cancer screening. Journal of Cancer Education. 2011; 26(1):103–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-010-0133-7.

A12. Shelton RC, Jandorf L, Ellison J, Villagra C, DuHamel KN. The influence of sociocultural factors on colonoscopy and FOBT screening adherence among low-income Hispanics. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. 2011; 22(3):925. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2011.0074.

A13. Todd L, Harvey E, Hoffman-Goetz L. Predicting breast and colon cancer screening among English-as-a-second-language older Chinese immigrant women to Canada. Journal of Cancer Education. 2011; 26(1):161–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-010-0141-7.

A14. Von Wagner C, Semmler C, Good A, Wardle J. Health literacy and self-efficacy for participating in colorectal cancer screening: the role of information processing. Patient Education & Counseling. 2009; 75(3):352–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2009.03.015.