Research published in JAMA Surgery examined the association between quality of life, healthcare contacts, quality of recovery and functional health literacy in patients undergoing day surgery in Sweden.
Researchers conducted a secondary analysis of 704 patients from a randomized clinical trial who had undergone day surgery at multiple centers between October 2015 and July 2016.
Here are the key details to know:
1. Those with inadequate or problematic health literacy levels had lower health-related quality of life scores than those with adequate functional health literacy levels.
2. Lower health literacy levels were also related with poorer recovery after surgery.
3. "Inadequate FHL in patients undergoing day surgery was associated with poorer postoperative recovery and a lower health-related quality of life. Health literacy is a relevant factor to consider for optimizing the postoperative recovery in patients undergoing day surgery," the researchers concluded.