The role of low health literacy in shared treatment decision-making in patients with kidney failure

Abstract

The classic paternalist medicine in nephrology has been modified to a shared decision-making model that clearly offers a benefit in patients with kidney disease. One of the cornerstones of shared treatment decision in patients with kidney failure is the understanding of kidney disease. As kidney disease is silent until advanced stages and is also an entity with a complex pathophysiology with little knowledge in the general population, its presence and understanding are difficult for most people. Health literacy (HL) plays a crucial role in the care of patients with kidney disease and the shared treatment decision. Limited HL has been associated with inefficient use of health services, non-compliance of medications, worse quality of life and increased mortality. In this review, we will address the importance of low HL in nephrology in terms of diagnosis, measurement, its effect on shared decision-making and how to increase it in people with kidney disease.

Keywords: chronic kidney disease; health literacy; kidney failure; renal replacement therapy; shared decision-making.

Figure 1:

Problems related to limited health literacy that could impact share decision-making. HL: health literacy; LHL: limited health literacy; SDM: shared decision-making.