Does Health Literacy Influence Self-Management Behaviors in Survivors of Prostate Cancer?
Published: August 6, 2026
ByLaura Litwin
A recent mixed methods systematic review established “a relationship between low health literacy and a range of health outcomes for prostate cancer survivors.”
A team of researchers from Ireland and Spain conducted the study and published their findings in Seminars in Oncology Nursing
Investigators explained that the goal of their research was to “systematically review the literature to identify the influence of health literacy on self-management behaviours and patient-reported outcomes of individuals with prostate cancer.”
They aligned their systematic review with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported the results “according to PRISMA 2020 statement.” They searched through six databases, including Medline, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science using the terms “prostate cancer” and “health literacy.”
Nine studies were selected for inclusion in the review, and the investigators reported that “among those living with a prostate cancer diagnosis, there is a significant association between low health literacy and poorer self-management behaviours and patient-reported outcomes, including poorer quality of life, greater fear of progression and treatment regret.”
The findings further demonstrated “high variability in how low health literacy was measured, evaluated and reported,” which investigators claimed limited their “ability to draw robust comparisons between the levels of health literacy across the included studies.”
Investigators reflected on the implications for oncology nursing practice, highlighting that oncology nurses should “use universal precautions when communicating with those living with prostate cancer, assuming that anyone may have health literacy difficulties and adjust communication accordingly.”
They also recommended that oncology nurses embed self-management behavior information into routine care and education for patients with prostate cancer, stating, “Cancer nurses have a critical role in supporting access, interpretation and utilisation of health information in the self-management of cancer-related effects.”
They concluded, “Further research is needed to consolidate this evidence using validated, comprehensive health literacy measures consistently across studies.”
References
Sheehan S, et al. Semin Oncol Nurs. 2026;42(1):152056. doi:10.1016/j.soncn.2025.152056
