Health Literacy and Unmet Needs in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

AIMS: To identify a correlation between unmet needs and HL levels in people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) and to evaluate how sociodemographic characteristics influence HL levels and unmet needs.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

METHODS

The study was conducted using a questionnaire including the HLS19-Q12 to assess HL and the Long-term Unmet Needs in Multiple Sclerosis tool, which evaluates five domains (neuropsychological, ambulation, physical, interpersonal relationship, and informational) and identifies whether needs are met or unmet and the desire for support.

RESULTS

Among the 116 participants included in the study, the overall HL level was sufficient. Mean scores across unmet needs domains were comparable. A significant difference in HL emerged in the informational domain, where participants reporting informational needs and a desire for support showed higher mean ranks. Although not significant, participants who acknowledged a need and expressed a desire for help showed higher mean ranks in HLS19-Q12 scores across several domains. No significant correlations were found between HL and unmet needs domains.

CONCLUSION

HL levels may enhance patients' ability to recognize and express needs without necessarily ensuring that these needs are met.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: Routine assessment of both HL and unmet needs may help healthcare professionals identify patients who recognize problems but lack the structural support to address them.

IMPACT: The impact of HL on need recognition and communication, together with the complexity and interconnectedness of unmet needs, highlights the need for healthcare systems to implement organizational, systemic, and multidimensional interventions aimed at promoting HL and effectively addressing patients' needs. Such strategies may support better disease management and improve quality of life in pwMS.

REPORTING METHOD: This study was reported according to STROBE checklist.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: None.