scholarly journals Functional health literacy in a population-based sample in Florence: a cross-sectional study using the Newest Vital Sign

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. e026356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guglielmo Bonaccorsi ◽  
Vieri Lastrucci ◽  
Virginia Vettori ◽  
Chiara Lorini

ObjectivesTo assess the level of functional health literacy (HL) and its antecedents and consequences in an adult population-based sample, using the Italian version of Newest Vital Sign (NVS-IT).DesignCross-sectional study.SettingGeneral population.Participants984 people were randomly selected from the resident registers of 11 general practitioners; a total of 452 (46.2%) of the selected people completed the study. Inclusion criteria were the following: 18–69 years of age and Italian speaking. Exclusion criteria included cognitive impairment, severe psychiatric diseases and end-stage diseases.Outcome measuresHL levels as assessed by the NVS-IT and the following potential HL predictors and consequences were assessed using logistic regression models: sociodemographic characteristics, body mass index, presence of long-term illnesses, self-reported health status, health services use in the last 12 months.ResultsHigh likelihood of limited HL, possibility of limited HL and adequate HL were found in 11.5%, 24.6% and 63.9% of the sample, respectively. The results of the multivariate logistic model for the antecedents showed that the risk of having high likelihood or possibility of limited HL levels increases with age (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.09), lower educational level (OR 4.03; 95% CI 3.41 to 7.49) and with worse financial situation (OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.17 to 2.63). As far as health outcomes are concerned, HL resulted to be positively associated with self-reported health status (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.75 to 2.75).ConclusionsFindings show a good level of functional HL in the population. However, older, less educated and poorer population groups showed to have a higher likelihood of suffering from limited or inadequate HL. Efforts should be made to design and implement public health policies and interventions tailored to different HL levels.Trial registration numberCEAVC:10113.

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Refat Mehzabin ◽  
Kazi Jahangir Hossain ◽  
Md. Moniruzzaman ◽  
S K Jakaria Been Sayeed

Background: Diabetes mellitus is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality around the world though there is huge development regarding its treatment. Many studies showed that functional health literacy has a great impact on diabetes outcome. The study assessed the relationship between functional health literacy and glycemic control in a sample of urban diabetic patients. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bangladesh University of Health and Science Hospital, Jurain, Dhaka from January to December 2014 that included adult diabetic patients on the basis of defined selection criteria following the purposive sampling method. Functional health literacy was assessed with the short form Test of the Functional Health Literacy in Adults (s-TOFLA). Recent HbA1c was used as a measure of glycemic control and categorized into tight, fair and inadequate glycemic control. Regression models were controlled for demographic data, diabetes duration, treatment regimen, diabetes knowledge and assistance for taking medications. Results: Following the s-TOFLA scale, 60.5% of the diabetic patients had inadequate functional health literacy of them, 89.3% had inadequate glycemic control (HbA1c>8%). And those who had adequate functional health literacy (24%) of them 68.8% had tight glycemic control (HbA1c≤7%). Overall 63.0% of the respondents had inadequate glycemic control. In linear regression model low s-TOFLA scores, longer diabetes duration and lack of assistance for taking medications were associated with higher levels of HbA1c. In fully adjusted model s-TOFLA score was the variable which was more strongly associated with HbA1c (β = -0.60, P<0.001). Conclusions: The study found that low health literacy is consistently associated with inadequate glycemic control. J MEDICINE JUL 2019; 20 (1) : 19-24


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaxuan Zhang ◽  
Jiwei Wang ◽  
Xinyuan Lu ◽  
Beibei Che ◽  
Rui Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background This study aimed at investigating the sleep status and its associated factors in Shaanxi province of China. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among 11399 subjects in Shaanxi Province, China. Data was collected via spot field questionnaire survey. The contents included demographic characteristics, sleep status, lifestyles, disease history and other associated factors. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the effect of associated factors for sleep quality. Crude odds ratio (cOR) and adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and their 95% confident intervals (CI) were calculated. Results A total of 11036 subjects were included in the final analysis. There were 12.8% participants having a bad or very bad sleep. In the last month, 8.4% participants had difficulty in initiating sleep, 7.6% participants had difficulty in maintaining sleep, 8.8% participants suffered from awakening earlier and 10.3% participants had the problem of feeling sleepy during the day ≥ 3 times per week. There were 16.5% participants having one of the above sleep problems (difficulty in initiating sleep, difficulty in maintaining sleep, awakening early) > 3 months. Poorer sleep quality was associated with female (aOR = 1.792, p < 0.001), unmarried or without cohabiting with boyfriend/girlfriend (aOR = 1.319, 95% CI = 1.022–1.704), divorced or widowed (aOR = 1.436, 95% CI = 1.052–1.960), heart diseases (aOR = 1.478, p = 0.002), musculoskeletal diseases (aOR = 1.460, p = 0.018), concerning about their own health (aOR = 1.113, p = 0.016), alcohol drinking (aOR = 1.201, p < 0.001), taking hypnotics (aOR = 1.643, p < 0.001), a longer daily screen time (aOR = 1.055, p < 0.001). Better sleep quality was associated with medium education level (aOR = 0.748, p = 0.003), high family monthly income (aOR = 0.939, p = 0.004), good self-reported health status (aOR = 0.490, p < 0.001), having breakfast regularly (aOR = 0.935, p = 0.016). Conclusions The self-reported sleep quality was generally good in Shaanxi, China. Sleep quality was associated with gender, marital status, educational level, family monthly income, heart disease, musculoskeletal diseases, degree of concerning about their own health, self-reported health status, alcohol drinking, having breakfast, take hypnotics and daily screen time.


BMJ Open ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. e004180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Gordilho Souza ◽  
Daniel Apolinario ◽  
Regina Miksian Magaldi ◽  
Alexandre Leopold Busse ◽  
Flavia Campora ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Babak Moeini ◽  
Masomeh Rostami-Moez ◽  
Fereshteh Besharati ◽  
Javad Faradmal ◽  
Saeed Bashirian

Background and aims: Health literacy (HL) can affect individual health, health communication and error in taking medicine. The aim of this study was to determine the level of HL and associated factors among Iranian adults. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 240 participants over 18 years of age referring to health centers in Hamadan, west of Iran in 2015 were selected by multistage random sampling. HL was assessed by the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA). The questionnaire was completed by a trained interviewer. The independent variables were structural and intermediate social factors based on the Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH). Data were analyzed by using IBM SPSS version 22. Results: Average age of the participants was 30.88 ±7.38 years and 75.4% of the them were female. The total score of HL was 64.58 ±16.71 (range: 23.82-98.98). Overall, 31.7% (n=76) of the participants had adequate HL level, 32.5% (n=78) had borderline HL level and 35.8% (n=86) had inadequate HL level. Additionally, participants with higher educational levels had higher HL scores than those with lower educational levels (P<0.001). HL score was significantly higher in males than in females (P=0.017). Conclusion: HL level seems to be inadequate among Iranian adults in the west of Iran. Moreover, enhancing social determinants such as educational level seems to increase HL. The results highlighted the necessity for change and improvement in adults’ HL.


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