Health Literacy in Chronic Limb Threatening Ischaemia (HeaLThI)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Health Literacy in chronic limb Threatening Ischaemia (HeaLThI):A prospective study investigating the association between health literacy, social deprivation and the clinical outcomes after lower limb revascularisation surgery for chronic limb threatening ischaemia.
IRAS ID
294461
Contact name
Sandip Nandhra
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NUTH
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 1 days
Research summary
Our aim is to investigate the association between health literacy, social deprivation and the outcomes after lower limb revascularisation surgery for chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI), including amputation and mortality.
Individuals of higher social deprivation have poorer health outcomes. Social deprivation and health inequalities are particularly pertinent in vascular patients due to the nature of vascular disease. Vascular disease is associated with poor lifestyle behaviours such as smoking, poor diet and a lack of physical activity and individuals of a lower socioeconomic status are more likely to display these poor lifestyle behaviours.
There is also an association between socio-economic status (SES) and health literacy. An individual's health literacy refers to how well they can obtain, process, and understand basic health information and access health services. Individuals with low health literacy have poorer health outcomes. Evidence suggests that vascular patients have low health literacy, which is concerning given that poorly managed CLTI often leads to amputation. As such, there is a need to understand health literacy in this group.
Participants would be eligible for this study if they have had lower limb revascularisation surgery for CLTI at the Northern Vascular Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle between 1st Jan 2015-1st Jan 2019. The retrospective cross-sectional study will be conducted from the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle.
Participants will be identified using the Northern Vascular Centre Register. Social deprivation, mortality rates and major lower-limb amputation will be determined using this register and the NHS Trust’s e-record system. Health Literacy will be determined by a questionnaire conducted over the telephone, irrespective and following the intervention.
The study is scheduled to last 4 months.
REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
21/NI/0092
Date of REC Opinion
1 Jun 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion