Gender Differences in the Associations Between Health Literacy and Medication Adherence in Hypertension: A Population-Based Survey in Heris County, Iran

Haleh Heizomi,1 Zeynab Iraji,2 Rogayeh Vaezi,1 Devender Bhalla,3– 5 Donald E Morisky,6 Haidar Nadrian1,7 1Department of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; 2Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Tabriz University of M...

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Main Authors: Heizomi H, Iraji Z, Vaezi R, Bhalla D, Morisky DE, Nadrian H
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-04-01
Series:Vascular Health and Risk Management
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/gender-differences-in-the-associations-between-health-literacy-and-med-peer-reviewed-article-VHRM
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author Heizomi H
Iraji Z
Vaezi R
Bhalla D
Morisky DE
Nadrian H
author_facet Heizomi H
Iraji Z
Vaezi R
Bhalla D
Morisky DE
Nadrian H
author_sort Heizomi H
collection DOAJ
description Haleh Heizomi,1 Zeynab Iraji,2 Rogayeh Vaezi,1 Devender Bhalla,3– 5 Donald E Morisky,6 Haidar Nadrian1,7 1Department of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; 2Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; 3Pôle Universitaire Euclide, Intergovernmental UN Treaty 49006/49007®, Bangui, Central African Republic; 4Iranian Epilepsy Association®, Tehran, Iran; 5Nepal Interest Group of Epilepsy and Neurology (NiGEN), Kathmandu, Nepal; 6Department of Community Health Sciences, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA; 7Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranCorrespondence: Haidar NadrianDepartment of Health Education and Promotion, Faulty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Attar-e-Neyshabouri Street, Tabriz, IranTel +989181734596Email haidarnadrian@gmail.comObjective: We examined the gender-based associations of health literacy (HL) with self-reported medication adherence (MEDA) among patients with primary hypertension (pHTN).Patients and Methods: The subjects were recruited from the general population through all health centers of the Heris county, east Azarbaijan. They were to be adults (30+ years age), with pHTN of any stage, of any gender, and without comorbid illness. All underwent detailed face-to-face interview. We used valid questionnaires for HL and MEDA. Hierarchical regression was done to establish the association between MEDA, socio-demographic variables, and nine HL domains by gender. Other statistical procedures were also done.Results: A total of 300 (48.6% males, mean age: 56.7± 9.3) subjects participated; 43.0% were uneducated, 73.0% had moderate socioeconomic status, 68.0% had poor HL, and 7.0% maintained high adherence. Men were better in reading skills (p=0.002), and accessing (p=0.01) and using (p=0.02) health information, but women were better in health knowledge (p=0.004). The average regression estimate (±standard deviation) between HL and MEDA was 0.37± 0.09, lower among men (0.361± 0.11) than women (0.396± 0.08), p=0.003. Upon hierarchical regression, the association between HL and MEDA was significant for communication and decision-making skills alone among both men (34.5%) and women (40.6%), individually.Conclusion: HL had substantial association with MEDA among those with HTN, for both men and women, particularly the communication and decision-making. With considerations on gender differences, this association should be confirmed through interventional studies to help make HL a formal mitigating strategy for MEDA and other public health goals.Keywords: medication adherence, health literacy, hypertension, gender
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spelling doaj.art-0b5cb7026b1542e4b645b79becf221872022-12-21T20:20:35ZengDove Medical PressVascular Health and Risk Management1178-20482020-04-01Volume 1615716653292Gender Differences in the Associations Between Health Literacy and Medication Adherence in Hypertension: A Population-Based Survey in Heris County, IranHeizomi HIraji ZVaezi RBhalla DMorisky DENadrian HHaleh Heizomi,1 Zeynab Iraji,2 Rogayeh Vaezi,1 Devender Bhalla,3– 5 Donald E Morisky,6 Haidar Nadrian1,7 1Department of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; 2Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; 3Pôle Universitaire Euclide, Intergovernmental UN Treaty 49006/49007®, Bangui, Central African Republic; 4Iranian Epilepsy Association®, Tehran, Iran; 5Nepal Interest Group of Epilepsy and Neurology (NiGEN), Kathmandu, Nepal; 6Department of Community Health Sciences, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA; 7Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranCorrespondence: Haidar NadrianDepartment of Health Education and Promotion, Faulty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Attar-e-Neyshabouri Street, Tabriz, IranTel +989181734596Email haidarnadrian@gmail.comObjective: We examined the gender-based associations of health literacy (HL) with self-reported medication adherence (MEDA) among patients with primary hypertension (pHTN).Patients and Methods: The subjects were recruited from the general population through all health centers of the Heris county, east Azarbaijan. They were to be adults (30+ years age), with pHTN of any stage, of any gender, and without comorbid illness. All underwent detailed face-to-face interview. We used valid questionnaires for HL and MEDA. Hierarchical regression was done to establish the association between MEDA, socio-demographic variables, and nine HL domains by gender. Other statistical procedures were also done.Results: A total of 300 (48.6% males, mean age: 56.7± 9.3) subjects participated; 43.0% were uneducated, 73.0% had moderate socioeconomic status, 68.0% had poor HL, and 7.0% maintained high adherence. Men were better in reading skills (p=0.002), and accessing (p=0.01) and using (p=0.02) health information, but women were better in health knowledge (p=0.004). The average regression estimate (±standard deviation) between HL and MEDA was 0.37± 0.09, lower among men (0.361± 0.11) than women (0.396± 0.08), p=0.003. Upon hierarchical regression, the association between HL and MEDA was significant for communication and decision-making skills alone among both men (34.5%) and women (40.6%), individually.Conclusion: HL had substantial association with MEDA among those with HTN, for both men and women, particularly the communication and decision-making. With considerations on gender differences, this association should be confirmed through interventional studies to help make HL a formal mitigating strategy for MEDA and other public health goals.Keywords: medication adherence, health literacy, hypertension, genderhttps://www.dovepress.com/gender-differences-in-the-associations-between-health-literacy-and-med-peer-reviewed-article-VHRMmedication adherencehealth literacyhypertensiongender
spellingShingle Heizomi H
Iraji Z
Vaezi R
Bhalla D
Morisky DE
Nadrian H
Gender Differences in the Associations Between Health Literacy and Medication Adherence in Hypertension: A Population-Based Survey in Heris County, Iran
Vascular Health and Risk Management
medication adherence
health literacy
hypertension
gender
title Gender Differences in the Associations Between Health Literacy and Medication Adherence in Hypertension: A Population-Based Survey in Heris County, Iran
title_full Gender Differences in the Associations Between Health Literacy and Medication Adherence in Hypertension: A Population-Based Survey in Heris County, Iran
title_fullStr Gender Differences in the Associations Between Health Literacy and Medication Adherence in Hypertension: A Population-Based Survey in Heris County, Iran
title_full_unstemmed Gender Differences in the Associations Between Health Literacy and Medication Adherence in Hypertension: A Population-Based Survey in Heris County, Iran
title_short Gender Differences in the Associations Between Health Literacy and Medication Adherence in Hypertension: A Population-Based Survey in Heris County, Iran
title_sort gender differences in the associations between health literacy and medication adherence in hypertension a population based survey in heris county iran
topic medication adherence
health literacy
hypertension
gender
url https://www.dovepress.com/gender-differences-in-the-associations-between-health-literacy-and-med-peer-reviewed-article-VHRM
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