Effect of Health Literacy and Empowerment: it’s Effect on Health Awareness among Patients with Ascites

Background: Ascites negatively affects patient’s life that increase hospital admissions, chronic treatment costs and complications. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the effect of health literacy and empowerment on health awareness among patients with ascites. Design: A quasi-experimental research design was utilized. Setting: The study was conducted at National Liver Institute, in Shebin El-Kom, Menoufia University. Sample: A convenient sample of 80 adult patients with ascites as a result of liver cirrhosis; 40 patients in study group and the other 40 in control group. Three instruments were used in data collection; 1) A Structured Interviewing Questionnaire, 2) The health awareness questionnaire for cirrhotic ascites, 3) The Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II). Results: The result revealed increase level of awareness (P= < 0.000), and the mean for the total HPLP-II was 101.8±22.8 increased 47 points to 148.6±11.7 to 143.5±14.9 (P= < 0.001). Conclusion: the critical role of patient empowerment and health literacy in improving the awareness and knowledge. Recommendation: Focus on patient-centered care that empowers patients to actively participate in their treatment and decision-making processes, helping them to be aware about disease process of ascites and an improved quality of life.