Exploring the Relationships Between Ethnicity, Health Literacy, Self-efficacy, and Self-management in Patients Receiving Maintenance Hemodialysis

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among health literacy, self-efficacy, self-management and clinical outcomes, and if health literacy and self efficacy differed by ethnicity in the hemodialysis population.;A cross-sectional, correlation, between-subjects design was used. The Health Literacy Questionnaire, Strategies Used by People to Promote Health, and Patient Activation Measure-13 measured health literacy, self efficacy, and self management respectively. Clinical measures included three month averages of interdialytic weight gain, serum potassium, and serum phosphate. Forty-four participants from white English speaking backgrounds and 34 participants from visible minorities, with different levels in English speaking proficiency, participated.;Analysis indicates an association between health literacy and self efficacy; health literacy and self efficacy are associated with self management; and certain dimensions of health literacy differ between the two groups. The results suggest that health literacy could play a role in improving self-efficacy and self-management behaviors.