Institutional-level assessment of patients’ print health literacy: evaluating Ghana’s patient rights charter

n Ghana, the Patient Rights Charter outlines patient entitlements and responsibilities, but its complexity may limit comprehension. This study assessed patients’ print health literacy, including knowledge, reading fluency, and experiences with the charter, to enhance its accessibility and presentation. An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted with 222 inpatients across three district hospitals. Data were collected using a questionnaire and a 100-word passage from the charter. Analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.0, applying descriptive statistics, t-tests, and multivariable regression to identify differences and factors influencing patients’ print literacy. Overall, 59% of participants were unaware of the charter, and only 2.7% could recall three to four patient rights and responsibilities. A significant difference in reading fluency (−0.392; 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.582 to −0.201; t = –4.05; p = 0.001) was observed between pre-tertiary and tertiary-educated patients. Factors associated with fluency included education level (β = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.57; p = 0.01), age (β = –0.19; 95% CI: −0.31 to −0.05; p = 0.01), and gender (β = –0.20; 95% CI: −0.45 to −0.11; p = 0.01). The findings suggest that mere display of the patient charter is inadequate for awareness. A multifaceted approach, integrating plain language and multimedia education, is essential for improving comprehension and patient engagement.