Health Illiteracy and Satisfaction with the Quality of Nursing Care Among Patients Undergoing Cardiothoracic Surgeries

Background: Cardiothoracic surgery involves complex, high-risk procedures requiring optimal patient engagement and understanding. Limited health literacy may impact patient outcomes and satisfaction in this critical care setting. Design: A descriptive research design was utilized. Setting: The study was conducted at the Cardiothoracic Surgery Ward of Assiut Cardiac University Hospital, Egypt. Sample: A convenience sample of 230 adult patients aged 20–65 years admitted for cardiothoracic surgery was included. Tools: Data were collected using two tools: (1) a patient interview questionnaire comprising demographic data and medical assessment, and (2) the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ). Results: Half (50%) of participants were aged 40–