Clinical Focus ›› 2026, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (4): 318-322.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-583X.2026.04.005

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Mediating effect of disease uncertainty on the relationship between health literacy and anxiety in uremic dialysis patients

Wang Yan1(), Yang Heng2   

  1. 1. Department of Nephrology,Nanyang Third People's Hospital,Nanyang 473000,China
    2. Blood Purification Unit,Nanyang Central Hospital,Nanyang 473009,China
  • Received:2026-03-09 Online:2026-04-20 Published:2026-04-24
  • Contact: Wang Yan,Email: wy835129@126.com

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the mediating effect of disease uncertainty on the relationship between health literacy and anxiety in uremic dialysis patients. Methods Using convenience sampling, 127 uremic dialysis patients admitted to Nanyang Third People's Hospital from April 2021 to April 2025 were selected. Disease uncertainty, health literacy, and anxiety were assessed using the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale (MUIS), the Health Literacy Scale for Chronic Patients (HLSCP), and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), respectively. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine associations among the variables. Hierarchical regression analysis and Bootstrap resampling were applied to test the mediating effect of disease uncertainty between health literacy and anxiety. Results A total of 127 questionnaires were distributed, and 116 valid questionnaires were returned, yielding an effective response rate of 91.34%. Among the 116 uremic dialysis patients, the total scores were 75.13±18.76 for MUIS, 64.28±10.97 for HLSCP, and 56.82±6.44 for SAS. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the total MUIS score was positively correlated with the total SAS score (P<0.05) and negatively correlated with the total HLSCP score (P<0.05); the total HLSCP score was negatively correlated with the total SAS score (P<0.05). Mediation analysis indicated that disease uncertainty had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between health literacy and anxiety in uremic dialysis patients, accounting for 53.4% of the total effect. Conclusion Disease uncertainty is an important mediating mechanism through which health literacy influences anxiety in uremic dialysis patients. In clinical practice, anxiety symptoms may be alleviated by improving health literacy and reducing disease uncertainty.

Key words: uremia, dialysis, disease uncertainty, health literacy, anxiety, mediating effect

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