Cancer health literacy profile in Argentine oncology patients

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer Health Literacy is the individual’s ability to seek, understand, evaluate and use basic information and services necessary to make appropriate decisions regarding cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study was to analyse the Health Literacy Profile of Argentine cancer patients. Methodology: A non-experimental, descriptive, cross-sectional design was used. A non-probabilistic sampling method was applied and 500 adult cancer patients who provided their consent participated. A sociodemographic questionnaire and the Cancer Health Literacy Test were administered. Data were collected through mixed methods and analysed using R Studio. Results: The average Cancer Health Literacy score was 22.01 points (SD = 5.68, Mdn = 24), with 73% of patients classified at an intermediate level. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that educational level and information-seeking behaviour regarding diet and cancer were significant contributing factors to this construct, explaining 30.6% of its variability (adjusted R2 = 0.306) with a large effect size (f2 = 0.44). Cancer Health Literacy was lower in patients with an incomplete secondary education or lower and higher in those who actively sought information. Conclusion: Cancer Health Literacy was associated with educational level and nutritional information-seeking behaviour. Measuring these factors in clinical practice contributes to evidence-based care.