Self-efficacy and self-management mediate the association of health literacy and quality of life among patients with TB in Tibet, China: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Background This study aimed to analyze the relationship between health literacy and quality of life in patients with TB in Tibet and explore the mediating effects of self-efficacy and self-management in the relationship between health literacy and quality of life. Methods We used a convenience sampling method to select 271 cases of patients with TB in Tibet to conduct a survey of their general information, health literacy, self-management, self-efficacy and quality of life, and to construct structural equation models. Results The total health literacy score of patients with TB in Tibet was 84.28±18.57, while the lowest score was for information acquisition ability (55.99±25.66). Scores for quality of life were generally lower than the norm (patients with chronic diseases from other cities in China) (p<0.01). Moreover, self-efficacy and self-management mediated the relationship between health literacy and quality of life (p<0.05). Conclusions In Tibet, patients with TB have a low level of health literacy and an average level of quality of life. Emphasis should be placed on improving information access literacy, role-physicals and role-emotional to improve overall quality of life. The mediating roles of self-efficacy and self-management between health literacy and quality of life may provide a basis for further interventions.