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Investigating Health Literacy in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: a Descriptive Review

  • Autoimmunity (TK Tarrant, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Inadequate health literacy is common among American adults, but little is known about the impact of health literacy in rheumatic diseases. The purpose of this article is to review studies investigating health literacy and its association with clinical outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Recent Findings

Several validated health literacy measures have been examined in SLE patients. Low health literacy is associated with worse patient-reported outcomes and lower numeracy with higher disease activity. Two studies found no association of low health literacy with medication adherence. One randomized controlled trial tested a medication decision aid among patients with low health literacy.

Summary

We found a paucity of studies exploring health literacy in SLE. Low health literacy is associated with worse patient-reported outcomes and limited numeracy with higher disease activity in SLE. Further studies are needed exploring the impact of low health literacy on clinical outcomes and the effectiveness of literacy-sensitive interventions.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as:•• Of major importance

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rheumatology & Immunology, Duke University Department of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA

    Mithu Maheswaranathan, Amanda M. Eudy, Jennifer L. Rogers & Megan E. B. Clowse

  2. Duke Medical Center Library & Archives, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA

    Sarah Cantrell

  3. Departments of Medicine & Population Health Sciences and Center for the Study of Aging, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA

    Susan N. Hastings

  4. Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC, USA

    Susan N. Hastings

  5. Division of General Internal Medicine & Geriatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Stacy Cooper Bailey

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  1. Mithu Maheswaranathan
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  2. Sarah Cantrell
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Correspondence to Mithu Maheswaranathan.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Hastings received support from the Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation (CIN 13-410) at the Durham VA Health Care System. Dr. Eudy receives support from NIH NCATS Award Number 1KL2TR002554. Dr. Bailey reports grants from the NIH, Merck, Pfizer, and Eli Lilly and personal fees from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Sanofi, Pfizer, and Luto UK outside the submitted work.

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Maheswaranathan, M., Cantrell, S., Eudy, A.M. et al. Investigating Health Literacy in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: a Descriptive Review. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 20, 79 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-020-00978-6

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