Steven R. Erickson|Barbara LeRoy
Health literacy and medication administration performance by caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|Wayne State University
measure health literacy hl caregivers adults intellectualdevelopmental disabilities idds determine association hl medication administration task mat assessment identify caregiver characteristics associated higher hl mat scorescrosssectional studysoutheastern michigancaregivers aged 18 years older provided supportive care adults iddssurvey demonstrationshort test functional health literacy adults stofhla mat assessment consisting interpretation five sets medication instructions followed demonstration understanding using pill box survey caregivers demographics medicationrelated experiences education characteristics persons provide care carerelated activities performeda total 47 caregivers provided data caregivers mean age 457 146 years 41 872 women 38 809 education beyond high school caregivers involved obtaining medication pharmacies reminded person idd take medications andor administered person documented medication health information accompanied persons idd physician offices conduct monitoring procedures stofhla mean score 345 25 median 35 range 2236 mat mean score 120 22 median 12 range 615 compared family caregivers direct support staff frequently undergone medication training people could discuss medication questions worked person idd significantly shorter amount time significant differences stofhla mat scores family caregivers direct support staff observed caregiver education significantly correlated stofhla score mat scores significantly correlated caregiver characteristicscaregivers involved medication use process people idd ensuring caregiver understanding medication regimens andor improving medicationrelated hl may important step ensure safe effective use medications people idd