Accompanying patients aged 65 or over: how companions’ health literacy affects value co-creation during medical encounters

Abstract

Objectives: The recent health crisis has led to a tightening of visitor policies during medical consultations. This work studies the relationship between the companion’s health literacy (functional, interactive and critical) and the companion’s co-creation of value (co-production and value in use). Methods: Six hypotheses are tested by means of a sample of companions of chronically-ill patients over the age of 65, using structural equation modeling. Results: Functional literacy does not predict the co-creation of value through either of its dimensions (co-production and value in use). Interactive literacy has a positive influence on co-production and a negative influence on value in use. Critical literacy only positively influences value in use. Discussion: Merely understanding the health information is not sufficient for the companion to be recognized as a collaborator or “ally” of the doctor. It is necessary to encourage the companion’s communication and critical evaluation skills.