Association of health literacy with information support in Japanese patients with cancer undergoing first-time chemotherapy: A longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the actual status of health literacy (HL) in Japanese cancer patients undergoing first-time chemotherapy and propose effective information support for older adult patients. METHODS: Longitudinal study data were collected at two-time points: pre-therapy and after one course of chemotherapy. HL was measured using the Communicative and Critical Health Literacy (CCHL) scale. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 54 participants, including 33 older adults (≥ 65 years). There was a moderately negative correlation between age and CCHL score for seeking information from various sources. Total CCHL scores increased from 3.34 ± 0.64 (mean ± SD) to 3.46 ± 0.59. Participants were divided into two groups based on their level of HL. The low HL group increased from 2.84 ± 0.52 to 3.17 ± 0.59 (p = .008). Information provided in a booklet may help improve patients' HL in the low HL group.