Latent profile analysis and influencing factors of health literacy among family caregivers of cancer patients.
To understand the current status, categorical characteristics, and influencing factors of health literacy among family caregivers of cancer patients, providing evidence and guidance for enhancing caregivers' health literacy and caregiving capabilities to improve cancer patients' quality of life.
This study employed convenience sampling to select 287 family caregivers of cancer patients admitted to a tertiary-level Class A hospital in Weifang City between February and August 2025. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a demographic questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Cancer Caregiver Health Literacy Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Caregiver Sense of Efficacy Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale. Data analysis employed latent profile analysis of health literacy among family caregivers using Mplus 8.0 software, supplemented by descriptive analysis, univariate analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis via SPSS 25.0 to explore factors influencing health literacy.
A total of 271 valid questionnaires were retrieved. The mean health literacy score among family caregivers of cancer patients was 134 (120, 153), indicating a moderate level. The dimension "Processing Health Information" had the lowest mean score of 12 (9, 12). The dimension "Understanding Patient Needs and Preferences" scored highest at 18 (18, 22). Based on latent profile analysis, family caregivers of cancer patients were categorized into three groups: low health literacy (49.8%), moderate health literacy (25.4%), and high health literacy (24.7%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age (OR = 9.445, 95% CI: 1.646-54.196), educational attainment (OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.003-0.777), occupation (OR = 0.116, 95% CI: 0.021-0.641), and other factors were significantly associated with health literacy categories among family caregivers of cancer patients (p < 0.05).
The overall health literacy level among family caregivers of cancer patients was moderate, with nearly half (49.8%) falling into the low health literacy group, though significant heterogeneity existed. Caregivers' health literacy was influenced by multiple factors, including age, educational attainment, economic status, self-efficacy, social support, and caregiving experience.
This study employed convenience sampling to select 287 family caregivers of cancer patients admitted to a tertiary-level Class A hospital in Weifang City between February and August 2025. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a demographic questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Cancer Caregiver Health Literacy Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Caregiver Sense of Efficacy Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale. Data analysis employed latent profile analysis of health literacy among family caregivers using Mplus 8.0 software, supplemented by descriptive analysis, univariate analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis via SPSS 25.0 to explore factors influencing health literacy.
A total of 271 valid questionnaires were retrieved. The mean health literacy score among family caregivers of cancer patients was 134 (120, 153), indicating a moderate level. The dimension "Processing Health Information" had the lowest mean score of 12 (9, 12). The dimension "Understanding Patient Needs and Preferences" scored highest at 18 (18, 22). Based on latent profile analysis, family caregivers of cancer patients were categorized into three groups: low health literacy (49.8%), moderate health literacy (25.4%), and high health literacy (24.7%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age (OR = 9.445, 95% CI: 1.646-54.196), educational attainment (OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.003-0.777), occupation (OR = 0.116, 95% CI: 0.021-0.641), and other factors were significantly associated with health literacy categories among family caregivers of cancer patients (p < 0.05).
The overall health literacy level among family caregivers of cancer patients was moderate, with nearly half (49.8%) falling into the low health literacy group, though significant heterogeneity existed. Caregivers' health literacy was influenced by multiple factors, including age, educational attainment, economic status, self-efficacy, social support, and caregiving experience.