scholarly journals Health Literacy and Diabetes Knowledge: A Nationwide Survey in a Multi-Ethnic Population

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 9316
Author(s):  
P. V. Asharani ◽  
Jue Hua Lau ◽  
Kumarasan Roystonn ◽  
Fiona Devi ◽  
Wang Peizhi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Functional Health ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Functional Health Literacy ◽  
Unhealthy Lifestyle ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Inadequate Health Literacy

Health literacy is a key determinant of the public health and health climate of the nation. This study examined the functional health literacy of the nation, factors associated with health literacy, and its relationship with diabetes recognition. This cross-sectional survey recruited participants (N = 2895) who were 18 years and above from a population registry through disproportionate stratified sampling. The Brief Health Literacy Screen and other questionnaires were administered through face-to-face interviews, in one of the four national languages (English, Chinese, Malay or Tamil). The majority (80.5%) had adequate functional health literacy and were able to recognise symptoms of diabetes correctly (83.5% overall; 83.7% and 82.2% in those with adequate and inadequate health literacy, respectively). Those with inadequate health literacy had a higher incidence of chronic conditions (p < 0.001) compared to those with adequate health literacy in bivariate analysis. The majority of the sample had sufficient levels of physical activity (83.3%), and more than half reported an unhealthy lifestyle (57.4%). Older age, Chinese ethnicity, those who were employed, with lower education (secondary or below), and were married had significantly higher odds of inadequate health literacy. Health literacy was not associated with lifestyle, physical activity, chronic conditions and diabetes recognition. Health literacy interventions should focus on the disadvantaged social groups for improving their health literacy.

scholarly journals Health literacy status among pregnant women in a Brazilian conditional cash transfer programme: a cross-sectional investigation

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e4979119650
Author(s):  
Álex Moreira Herval ◽  
Fabiana Vargas-Ferreira ◽  
Efigênia Ferreira e Ferreira ◽  
Viviane Elisângela Gomes ◽  
Andréa Maria Duarte Vargas
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Conditional Cash Transfer ◽  
Cash Transfer ◽  
Functional Health ◽  
Functional Health Literacy ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Literacy Survey

Objective: To investigate the overall score and the variables associated with health literacy of pregnant women benefited from a conditional cash transfer programme. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with pregnant women benefited from a Brazilian conditional cash transfer programme. We used a validated short health literacy survey developed for research on public health and health promotion. The level of health literacy (high or low) was considered a determining variable. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analysis was applied to the data collected. Results: Only the two following variables were associated with health literacy: participation in health education activities and the choice of mothers to seek advice regarding pregnancy. Functional health literacy was higher when pregnant women participated in health education activities. Critical health literacy was higher when pregnant women sought advice from their mothers, friends, and other family members. Conclusion: Health education and a social network of pregnant women should be part of prenatal care.

scholarly journals Functional health literacy in hypertensive elders at primary health care

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (suppl 2) ◽  
pp. 266-273
Author(s):  
Victor Roberto Santos Costa ◽  
Polyana D’arc Rezende Costa ◽  
Eduardo Yoshio Nakano ◽  
Daniel Apolinário ◽  
Alfredo Nicodemos Cruz Santana
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Skin Color ◽  
Functional Health ◽  
Functional Health Literacy ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Inadequate Health Literacy

ABSTRACT Objective: to assess the relationship between inadequate functional health literacy and inadequate blood pressure control in older people with hypertension in Primary Health Care. Method: a cross-sectional study with sample calculated at 392. SAHLPA-18 tool was used for functional health literacy; blood pressure was measured; sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. Hierarchical logistic regression was used. Results: (high) inadequate blood pressure and (low) functional inadequate health literacy were present in 41.6% and 54.6% of the people, respectively. Factors associated with inadequate blood pressure were: inadequate functional health literacy, black-brown skin color, overweight-obesity, hypertension diagnosis time, non-adherence to exercise/diet, drug treatment. Schooling had no association with inadequate blood pressure Conclusion: hypertensive elderly people with inadequate health literacy were more likely to have inadequate blood pressure. Thus, health professionals need to value functional health literacy as a possible component to control blood pressure.

scholarly journals HEALTH LITERACY OF INDIVIDUALS UNDERGOING DIALYSIS THERAPY

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jéssica Naylla de Melo Bezerra ◽  
Sara Rebeca de Oliveira Lessa ◽  
Marcelo Francisco do Ó ◽  
Givaneide Oliveira de Andrade Luz ◽  
Anna Karla de Oliveira Tito Borba
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Functional Health ◽  
P Value ◽  
Functional Health Literacy ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Adequate Health Literacy

ABSTRACT Objective: to assess the functional levels of health literacy in individuals undergoing dialysis. Method: a cross-sectional study with 42 patients of the Nephrology Unit of a public hospital in Recife, Brazil, from May to August 2016. Data were collected through scripted interviews and chart analysis. Functional health literacy was measured using the Brazilian version of the Short-Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS®) software, version 18.0, with a univariate analysis to verify the association between independent variables and functional health literacy levels using Fisher's exact test. Results: 80.9% of the patients presented inadequate health literacy and 19.1% presented adequate health literacy. The number of correct answers remained between 0-18 in the reading comprehension and in the scheduling appointment card. Among the independent variables, only marital status (p-value=0.018) and personal income (p-value=0.009) were factors associated with the worst scores in the test, indicating that these variables influence the increase in inadequate literacy. Conclusion: the prevalence of inadequate functional literacy was high, reflecting difficulties in understanding and processing health information, which may interfere with therapeutic management and self-care.

scholarly journals The role of functional health literacy in long-term treatment outcomes in psychosocial care for adolescents

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 1547-1554
Author(s):  
L. Beukema ◽  
S. A. Reijneveld ◽  
M. Jager ◽  
J. Metselaar ◽  
A. F. de Winter
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Treatment Adherence ◽  
Psychosocial Care ◽  
Psychosocial Problems ◽  
Learning Processes ◽  
Functional Health ◽  
Functional Health Literacy ◽  
Treatment Processes ◽  
Inadequate Health Literacy ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Although among adolescents with psychosocial problems low health literacy may increase the risk of poor treatment outcomes, the contributing mechanisms within treatment remain unclear. A better understanding of these mechanisms could contribute to improved treatment processes and outcomes. This study aims to examine the relationship between functional health literacy, treatment processes (treatment adherence, learning processes), and treatment outcome (level of psychosocial problems) in adolescents in psychosocial care. We used data from a prospective cohort study among adolescents aged 12–18 (N = 390), collected in four successive measurements: at entry into care, and 3, 12, and 24 months thereafter. We used a mixed effect model to investigate the association between level of functional health literacy (adequate vs. inadequate) and treatment processes (treatment adherence, learning processes) and treatment outcome (level of psychosocial problems). Between adolescents with adequate and inadequate functional health literacy, we found no differences or change over time in adherence or learning processes. The level of psychosocial problems significantly declined over time (β = − 1.70, 95% CI [− 2.72, − 0.69], p = .001) to a similar degree in both groups, though, in all measurements, the level was consistently higher for adolescents with inadequate health literacy. We conclude that health literacy levels did not affect change in treatment processes nor in outcomes of psychosocial treatment. However, the consistently higher level of psychosocial problems among adolescents with inadequate health literacy suggests an unaddressed need in psychosocial care.

scholarly journals Comprehension of the education handout and health literacy of pacemaker users

2017 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 633-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jackelline Evellin Moreira dos Santos ◽  
Virginia Visconde Brasil ◽  
Katarinne Lima Moraes ◽  
Jacqueline Andréia Bernardes Leão Cordeiro ◽  
Gabriela Ferreira de Oliveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Cardiac Pacemaker ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Functional Health ◽  
Care Process ◽  
Functional Health Literacy ◽  
Literacy Assessment ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Cross Sectional

ABSTRACT Objective: To verify the comprehension of the education handout and the level of Functional Health Literacy of individuals with cardiac pacemaker (PM) and whether there is correlation between the comprehension and Functional Health Literacy (FHL). Method: Cross-sectional study with 63 individuals with PM who answered to comprehension tests of the handout, literacy assessment (SAHLPA-50) and cognition (MMSE). Measurements of dispersion, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression were calculated. Results: Most women, study time ≤ 9 years, 66.21 (average age) presented no cognitive changes. An adequate literacy level was evidenced in 50.8% individuals with PM and satisfactory comprehension of the handout. No correlation was identified between FHL, handout comprehension, age, years of study and cognition. Conclusion: The handout comprehension assessed by individuals with appropriate FHL indicated that it can be a printed material suitable for use, aiming to improve care process and knowledge of individuals with PM.

scholarly journals Association of Functional Health Literacy with Glycemic Control: A Cross Sectional Study in Urban Population of Bangladesh

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Refat Mehzabin ◽  
Kazi Jahangir Hossain ◽  
Md. Moniruzzaman ◽  
S K Jakaria Been Sayeed
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Glycemic Control ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Diabetes Duration ◽  
Functional Health ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Functional Health Literacy ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Inadequate Glycemic Control

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

Gender-based Inequalities in Health literacy among an Iranian Kurd Population: Results of a Community Survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan Mahmoodi ◽  
Rahmatollah Moradzadeh ◽  
Abedin Iranpour ◽  
Fatemeh Shahi ◽  
Somayeh Azimi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Concentration Index ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Functional Health ◽  
Cluster Sampling ◽  
Functional Health Literacy ◽  
Monthly Income ◽  
Place Of Residence ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Health literacy, as a social determinant of health, has a decisive role in providing different populations with healthcare services in an equal manner. Our aim in this study was to investigate the contribution of socio-demographic factors to functional health literacy (FHL) in a population of Iranian adults and identify differences in the contribution of these factors across genders. Methods This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015 to 2016 in Sanandaj, Iran. Multistage cluster sampling was employed to recruit 1000 people older than 18 (response rate = 89.2%) from 35 urban and 10 rural health care centers. Test of functional health literacy in adults (TOFHLA) was used to assess FHL. In order to measure inequality in FHL, concentration index decomposition was used. Results In total, 869 respondents (response rate: 86.9%) with a mean age (standard deviation; SD) of 33.68 (13.0) completed TOFHLA questionnaire. More than half of participants were women (57.5%). Participants demonstrated an average TOFHLA score of 51.9. Women demonstrated slightly higher TOFHLA scores (52.2 [SD: 0.46]) compared to men (50.7 [SD: 0.4]). However, the concentration index for gender was 10.9% suggesting gender contributed only moderately to TOFHLA scores. Comparatively, 54.3% of TOFHLA differences were attributed to geographic location. Among women, place of residence, monthly income, age, education level and being head of household contributed to 43%, 32%, 13%, 11.5% and 11% of FHL inequality, respectively. Among men, however, place of residence (45.2%), size of household (15.1%) and monthly income (13.5%) contributed most to inequality in FHL. Conclusions Although gender was not the strongest contributing factor for FHL inequalities, poor FHL was mostly concentrated among men. Different factors were attributed to FHL inequality by gender, as discussed inside. Understanding these differences may assist in identifying and targeting interventions towards men and women with low levels of FHL. Our findings shed light the critical role of social determinants of health (SDH) in promoting the health literacy of populations, particularly in developing countries like Iran.

scholarly journals Health literacy in familial hypercholesterolemia: A cross-national study

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 936-943 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin S Hagger ◽  
Sarah J Hardcastle ◽  
Miao Hu ◽  
See Kwok ◽  
Jie Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Familial Hypercholesterolemia ◽  
National Study ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Adequate Health Literacy ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Inadequate Health Literacy

Background High rates of inadequate health literacy are associated with maladaptive health outcomes in chronic disease including increased mortality and morbidity rates, poor treatment adherence and poor health. Adequate health literacy may be an important factor in the effective treatment and management of familial hypercholesterolemia, and may also be implicated in genetic screening for familial hypercholesterolemia among index cases. The present study examined the prevalence and predictors of health literacy in familial hypercholesterolemia patients attending clinics in seven countries. Design Cross-sectional survey. Methods Consecutive FH patients attending clinics in Australia, Brazil, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan and the UK completed measures of demographic variables (age, gender, household income and highest education level) and a brief three-item health literacy scale. Results Rates of inadequate health literacy were lowest in the UK (7.0%), Australia (10.0%), Hong Kong (15.7%) and Taiwan (18.0%) samples, with higher rates in the Brazil (22.0%), Malaysia (25.0%) and China (37.0%) samples. Income was an independent predictor of health literacy levels, accounting for effects of age. Health literacy was also independently related to China national group membership. Conclusions Findings indicate non-trivial levels of inadequate health literacy in samples of familial hypercholesterolemia patients. Consistent with previous research in chronic illness, inadequate health literacy is related to income as an index of health disparities. Chinese familial hypercholesterolemia patients are more likely to have high rates of inadequate health literacy independent of income. Current findings highlight the imperative of education interventions targeting familial hypercholesterolemia patients with inadequate health literacy.

scholarly journals Validity and reliability of the Swedish Functional Health Literacy scale and the Swedish Communicative and Critical Health Literacy scale in patients undergoing bariatric surgery in Sweden: a prospective psychometric evaluation study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. e056592
Author(s):  
Maria Jaensson ◽  
Erik Stenberg ◽  
Yuli Liang ◽  
Ulrica Nilsson ◽  
Karuna Dahlberg
Keyword(s):  
Bariatric Surgery ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Psychometric Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Study ◽  
Functional Health ◽  
Functional Health Literacy ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Factor Solution ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Critical Health Literacy

ObjectivesThe aim was to psychometrically test and evaluate the Swedish functional health literacy scale and the Swedish communicative and critical health literacy scale in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.DesignA prospective cross-sectional psychometric study.SettingPatients from three bariatric centres in Sweden were consecutively included in this study.ParticipantsA total of 704 patients undergoing bariatric surgery filled in the questionnaires preoperatively. Inclusion criteria were scheduled for primary bariatric surgery (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy) and greater than 17 years, proficiency in Swedish.Primary and secondary measuresPsychometric outcomes of the Swedish Functional Health Literacy scale and the Swedish Communicative and Critical Health Literacy scale.ResultsThere was a higher proportion of females (74.4%, n=523) to males (25.6%, n=180). The mean age was 42 years (SD 11.5). Limited functional health literacy and limited communicative and critical health literacy (including both inadequate and problematic health literacy) was reported in 55% (n=390) and 40% (n=285), respectively. Cronbach alpha for the Swedish Functional Health Literacy scale was α=0.86 and for the Swedish Communicative and Critical Health Literacy scale, α=0.87. Construct validity showed weak to negative correlations between the Swedish Functional Health Literacy scale and income, education and SF-36/RAND36 summary scores. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a one-factor solution for the Swedish Functional Health Literacy scale and a two-factor solution for the Swedish Communicative and Critical Health Literacy scale.ConclusionsThe Swedish Functional Health Literacy scale and the Swedish Communicative and Critical Health Literacy scale are valid and reliable to use for patients undergoing bariatric surgery in a Swedish context. Measuring dimensions of health literacy can be used as a guide for the development of health literacy friendly patient information in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

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