Abstract Body: Background
Health literacy is a crucial factor influencing the care outcomes of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aimed to explore how socioeconomic factors, particularly income, education, and digital health literacy, contribute to patients’ understanding of their diagnosis and treatment following acute cardiac events.
Methods
Over 3 months, we surveyed 50 patients at their first clinical visit post-hospitalization. The information was analyzed, social determinants were evaluated using Fisher's t-test, and logistic regression was used to study the predictive power of various factors.
Results
The median age was 55 years, with 52% male and 50% identifying as African American. Education and income were key factors: 66.7% of participants had a high school or lower education level, and 71% had an annual income below $50,000. Notably, 50% of patients accessed their healthcare records via a digital patient portal, while 20% reported conducting personal research to better understand their condition. While 60% of participants expressed a good understanding of their diagnosis, 36% understood their treatment plans, and just 8% comprehended all aspects of their care, including expected clinical outcomes. Digital health literacy, specifically accessing healthcare records through the portal, was strongly associated with a better understanding of treatment plans. Income and educational attainment also played significant roles, with lower levels linked to greater challenges in understanding care instructions.
Conclusion
Contrary to expectations, race and gender were not significant predictors of health literacy in this study. These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions focused on improving digital health literacy and supporting patients with lower education and income levels to enhance their understanding of cardiac care.