title: Development of a conceptual model of cancer caregiver health literacy.
abstract: Caregivers play a vital role in caring for people diagnosed with cancer. However, little is understood about caregivers' capacity to find, understand, appraise and use information to improve health outcomes. The study aimed to develop a conceptual model that describes the elements of cancer caregiver health literacy. Six concept mapping workshops were conducted with 13 caregivers, 13 people with cancer and 11 healthcare providers/policymakers. An iterative, mixed methods approach was used to analyse and synthesise workshop data and to generate the conceptual model. Six major themes and 17 subthemes were identified from 279 statements generated by participants during concept mapping workshops. Major themes included: access to information, understanding of information, relationship with healthcare providers, relationship with the care recipient, managing challenges of caregiving and support systems. The study extends conceptualisations of health literacy by identifying factors specific to caregiving within the cancer context. The findings demonstrate that caregiver health literacy is multidimensional, includes a broad range of individual and interpersonal elements, and is influenced by broader healthcare system and community factors. These results provide guidance for the development of: caregiver health literacy measurement tools; strategies for improving health service delivery, and; interventions to improve caregiver health literacy.
authors: Public Health Innovation, Population Health Strategic Research Centre, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: E Y N
authors: EY
authors: Yuen
authors: Public Health Innovation, Population Health Strategic Research Centre, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Dodson
authors: Public Health Innovation, Population Health Strategic Research Centre, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: R W
authors: RW
authors: Batterham
authors: School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Knight
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Eastern Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Chirgwin
authors: Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: P M
authors: PM
authors: Livingston
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers; D032882:Comprehension; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D000072858:Psychosocial Support Systems; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: cancer; caregivers; concept mapping; conceptual model; health literacy