Ruth Ann Marrie|Amber Salter|Tuula Tyry|Robert J. Fox|Gary Cutter
Health Literacy Association With Health Behaviors and Health Care Utilization in Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study
University of Manitoba|University of Alabama at Birmingham|Barrow Neurological Institute|Cleveland Clinic|University of Alabama at Birmingham
background low health literacy generally associated poor health outcomes however health literacy received little attention multiple sclerosis ms objective aim study investigate health literacy persons ms using north american research committee multiple sclerosis narcoms registry methods 2012 conducted crosssectional study health literacy among narcoms participants respondents completed medical term recognition test meter assesses ability distinguish medical nonmedical words newest vital sign nvs instrument evaluates reading interpretation numeracy skills respondents reported sociodemographic characteristics health behaviors comorbidities visits emergency room er hospitalizations last 6 months used logistic regression evaluate characteristics associated functional literacy association functional literacy health care utilization results 13020 eligible participants 8934 686 completed questionnaire us residents performed well instruments 8104 70668719 functional literacy meter 7462 66668933 adequate literacy nvs low literacy meter nvs associated smoking overweight obese p001 adjustment low literacy meter associated er visits 128 95 ci 110148 hospitalizations 119 95 ci 098144 findings similar nvs conclusions narcoms cohort functional health literacy high however lower levels health literacy associated adverse health behaviors greater health care utilization