Multiple regression analysis on influence factors for cancer patients' health literacy in Fengxian District of Shanghai

Objective To ascertain the difference in health literacy between cancer patients and health crowd of the four villages and towns in Fengxian and find the risk factors for cancer patients, so as to provide the basis for prevention and treatment of tumor. Methods Household surveying was done in 4 randomly selected villages and towns in Fengxian. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to study the influence factors in different dimensions for health literacy among the investigation subjects. Results Cancer patients' health literacy was found to be higher than that of healthy population. The basic knowledge and concept of health, health life style and behavior in cancer patients were both found to be higher than those in healthy population, with values being 71.68%, 59.92% in cancer patients and 45.59%, 36.37% in health population. Multiple regression analysis showed:health literacy had correlation with diagnostic level, and Karnofsky scores(P<0.01). Conclusion Cancer patients have strong desire to improve their health, but to improve their health literacy is limited by their health status; while lack of preventive consciousness in general population is the risk factor in occurrence of the disease. Therefore, it is more significant to enhance health literacy in general population.