Health literacy can be understood as the set of cognitive and social skills that determine individuals' motivation and ability to make judgments and make decisions about health care, disease prevention, and health promotion. Therapeutic adherence may be related to a set of behaviors that coincide with the prescribed therapeutic regimen. The different capabilities of individuals to use and process health information, as well as to adhere to the proposed therapy, are of special importance in relation to chronic diseases, such as chronic kidney disease. Taking into account the relationship of this triad of concepts, it was important to know the level of literacy and therapeutic adherence in chronic kidney patients in a regular hemodialysis program. The methodology used followed a quantitative paradigm, in a cross-sectional descriptive correlational study. The sample consisted of 100 chronic kidney patients in a regular hemodialysis program at a clinic in the northern region of Portugal. The interview was used to gather information. The results obtained evidenced the existence of low levels of health literacy in 69% of the individuals that correlated with age and level of schooling. Regarding therapeutic adherence, the majority of the sample adhered to the therapy (78%), showing no relation between this and health literacy. As this is a national problem and leads to a deficiency in the sustainability of the health economy and the quality of life of our population, it is considered fundamental to provide the patient with the skills to deal with their health-disease process.
