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Background: People with chronic illness are particularly dependent on adequate health literacy (HL), but often report difficulties in accessing, understanding, appraising, and applying health information. To strengthen the HL of people with chronic illness, in-depth knowledge about how they deal with health information is crucial. Methods: To this end, quantitative data from the Second Health Literacy Survey Germany (HLS-GER 2) and qualitative data from seven focus group discussions were used to examine the interest in health information, preferred sources of information as well as experiences and challenges with information management among people with chronic illness. Results: The results show that people with chronic illness have a great interest in health information and use very different sources of health information, preferring personal information from physicians most. The results also point to several challenges in health information management that seem to be influenced by the illness duration as well as by the experiences made with the respective sources. Conclusions: Overall, the study provides important starting points for intervention development for the provision and communication of health-related information, but also to research on health information behavior and HL.

Background: People with chronic illness are particularly dependent on adequate health literacy (HL), but often report difficulties in accessing, understanding, appraising, and applying health information. To strengthen the HL of people with chronic illness, in-depth knowledge about how they deal with health information is crucial. Methods: To this end, quantitative data from the Second Health Literacy Survey Germany (HLS-GER 2) and qualitative data from seven focus group discussions were used to examine the interest in health information, preferred sources of information as well as experiences and challenges with information management among people with chronic illness. Results: The results show that people with chronic illness have a great interest in health information and use very different sources of health information, preferring personal information from physicians most. The results also point to several challenges in health information management that seem to be influenced by the illness duration as well as by the experiences made with the respective sources. Conclusions: Overall, the study provides important starting points for intervention development for the provision and communication of health-related information, but also to research on health information behavior and HL.

Resumen Objetivo: Describir la percepción que tienen sobre su calidad de vida las personas en situación de enfermedad crónica: diabetes e hipertensión arterial, en una institución de segundo nivel en el Programa de Promoción de la salud y Prevención de la enfermedad, en Barranquilla (Colombia). Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo. Los informantes fueron en total 6 personas, conformados por 2 hombres con diagnóstico de diabetes mellitus y 4 mujeres, 2 de ellas con hipertensión arterial y 2 con diabetes mellitus. Para el análisis de los datos se empleó la técnica análisis de contenido. Los datos fueron sistematizados y procesados, mediante la herramienta Atlas T. Y los resultados se contrastaron con el modelo de calidad de vida en sobrevivientes del cáncer, propuesto por Betty Ferrell. Resultados: Las personas en situación de enfermedad crónica no trasmisibles, diabetes e hipertensión arterial, perciben su calidad de vida en las siguientes dimensiones: física: descrita con limitaciones y malestar; en la social: aislamiento, dependencia, alteración función sexual; en la psicológica: ansiedad, depresión desesperanza e incertidumbre; espiritual: fortaleza, fe, Dios sana. Conclusión: El profesional de enfermería y quienes lideran los programa de promoción de la salud y prevención de la enfermedad deben brindar un cuidado de manera holística, en el que tengan en cuenta todas las dimensiones de las personas que conviven con una enfermedad crónica no trasmisible, lo cual redundará en una mejor calidad de vida. Abstract Objective: to describe the perception of people with chronic disease: diabetes and high blood pressure, compared to their quality of life, in a second-tier institution, the program of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, in Barranquilla (Colombia). Materials and methods: A descriptive approach. The informants were a total of 6 people, made up of two men diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and 4 women, 2 of them with hypertension, 2 diabetes mellitus. For data analysis, content analysis technique (14) was used. The data were systematized and processed through the Atlas tool T. The theoretical basis of is research is the model of health as expanding consciousness for the care of people in chronic disease, proposed by the nurse Margaret Newman and model results with quality of life in cancer survivors, proposed by Betty Ferrell were contrasted. Results: People in situation of chronic non-communicable disease, diabetes and hypertension, perceive their quality of life dimensions: physical: limitations and discomfort described; in the social: isolation, dependency, impaired sexual function; psychological: anxiety, hopelessness, depression and uncertainty; spiritual dimension: strength, faith, God heals. Conclusion: It is important that the nurse and the multidisciplinary team led Programs Health Promotion and Prevention disease, provide care where holistically taking into account all dimensions of people living with a disease chronic non transmissible, which will result in a better quality of life.