Investigating the Relationship between the Health Literacy of COVID-19 Patients and the Burden of Family Caregivers

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with the challenge of health literacy of patients and the care burden of family caregivers. Aim: The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between the health literacy of patients discharged with the diagnosis of COVID-19 and the care burden of family caregivers. Methods: This descriptive and analytical study was conducted on 290 people who were COVID-19 patients and 290 people who were their family caregivers in 2022. The study used the convenience sampling method in hospitals located in 22 Bahman Khaf and Allameh Bohlol Gonabadi. The data were collected using the health literacy questionnaire of Montazeri et al. (2005) and the burden of care questionnaire of Zarit et al. (1998). The data were analyzed using SPSS-22 statistical software and Kolmogorov-Smirnov, independent t, Pearson correlation coefficient, and ANOVA tests at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The level of health literacy in most patients was weak. The burden of care for most family caregivers was severe. There was a negative and significant relationship between the health literacy of patients in general and the care burden of family caregivers in general (p<0.001). For an increase of one health literacy score in general, the care burden score decreases by 0.44. Conclusion: As the health literacy of patients increases, the care burden of their family caregivers decreases. Therefore, scientific and practical training plans for patients are recommended to health policymakers to improve health literacy and ultimately reduce the care burden of family caregivers.