Addressing the effectiveness of health literacy programs within the Gulf Corporation Council: an integrative review

Abstract

Health literacy is an increasingly required need to help individuals, families and communities manage their health and health conditions. It is linked with better self-adherence to treatments, use of resources, access to care and overall reduced costs in healthcare. In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, various health literacy programs are implemented across states to address people's unique and complex healthcare needs. This article aims to examine the current literature and assess the factors that influence the outcomes of health literacy programs within the GCC. An integrative review methodology has been conducted to pursue a comprehensive understanding of health literacy interventions in the GCC. This investigative approach was shaped by Whittemore and Knafl's framework (2005), which includes problem identification, literature search, data evaluation, data analysis and presentation. The literature on the effectiveness of health literacy interventions and the factors that shape them are notably limited worldwide and within the GCC region. This integrative review addresses this knowledge gap and highlights the significance of key themes such as sessions, evaluation and improvement in shaping health literacy outcomes within the GCC region. Through this integrative review, the three main themes of sessions, evaluation and improvement were identified as influencing the outcomes of health literacy programs within the GCC.