Towards tailored medication self-management: needs of and support for patients with limited health literacy

This thesis aims to explore the needs of patients with a chronic disease and limited health literacy regarding medication, self-management and how support for self-management of medication can be tailored to those needs. This thesis demonstrates that patients with limited health literacy can be supported in their medication self-management through tailored health information that is more accessible, understandable, and easier to assess. In addition to providing health information and improving knowledge, medication self-management support should also focus on helping patients to acquire skills and self-confidence. This thesis provides recommendations for the design, content, and strategies of future self-management interventions for this group of patients. It also discusses strategies for reaching patients with limited health literacy and the importance of including them in the design of future interventions. Although healthcare professionals are willing to support medication self-management, a more active delivery approach and training are required to reach patients with limited health literacy.