Abstract: 【Abstract】Objective To investigate the health literacy of infectious diseases in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients, and to explore its related factors. Methods A cross-sectional investigation using the Infectious DiseasESpecific Health Literacy (IDSHL) was performed in 200 MHD patients. Results The health literacy scores of infectious diseases were 19.71±7.29 in the MHD patients, lower than the scores in general population. Patients (185 case, 92.5%) required health certificates for catering business had a relatively higher awareness rate of the prevention knowledge of infectious diseases. Patients (36 cases, 18%) had
poor knowledge about the treatment of hepatitis B, to which antibiotics are not required. The literacy level of patients (β = 0.416, P=0.011) and the understanding of infectious diseases by self- evaluation (β =- 1.256, P＜0.001) were the influencing factors for health literacy of infectious diseases. Conclusion In clinical practice, knowledge education and training should be strengthened for patients with low education level and poor knowledge about infectious diseases, so as to improve their health literacy of infectious diseases.

Key words: Hemodialysis, Patient, Infectious disease, Health literacy