Health literacy development of Primary Health Care patients: qualitative research - Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem

ABSTRACT

Objectives:

to identify the process of health literacy development among primary care patients, relating it to their self-care practices.

Methods:

qualitative, prospective research with 22 patients from two Family Health Strategy units. Data were obtained through individual semi-structured interviews, examined through descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis.

Results:

the results discuss how participants learn about health and how this resonates in their behaviors, culminating in two thematic categories: “Health knowledge construction”; and “Dialogue between health knowledge construction and patient care actions”.

Final Considerations:

health knowledge is developed mainly through interpersonal relationships, mediated by health professionals through bonding and communication. Community educational actions and training of health professionals in communication can promote health literacy and self-care among patients.