Health Literacy, Medication Adherence, and Quality of Life in Patients With Uveitis

Purpose: To evaluate health literacy, medication adherence, and quality of life (QOL) in uveitis patients. Methods: Cross-sectional quality improvement study using questionnaires of health literacy (Short Assessment of Health Literacy), adherence (Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire), and QOL (12-item Short Form Health Survey). Results: Sixty patients were surveyed: 57% women, 80% identified as Black, and 42% with schooling beyond high school. Forty-three percent of the patients had poor health literacy, with lower scores among those with less schooling (p < .01). Necessity scores were higher for multiple providers (p = .02). Necessity (p = .03) and Concerns (p < .01) scores were higher for patients seeing a rheumatologist. Patients had lower physical (p < .01) and mental QOL (p < .01) than the general US population. Conclusions: Uveitis patients reported many barriers to care. Despite strong perceptions of treatment necessity, there were significant concerns, especially among patients seeing a rheumatologist. We recommend multidisciplinary care, individualized education, and counseling regarding medication safety and the necessity to improve adherence.