Danielle M. McCarthy|Katherine Waite|Laura M. Curtis|Kirsten G. Engel|David W. Baker|Michael S. Wolf
What Did the Doctor Say? Health Literacy and Recall of Medical Instructions
Northwestern University
limited literacy repeatedly linked problems comprehending health information although majority studies date focused reading various print health materials sought investigate patients ability recall spoken medical instructions context hypothetical clinical encounter whether limited health literacy would adversely affect performance taska total 755 patients aged 55 74 recruited 1 academic internal medicine clinic 3 federally qualified health centers participants health literacy skills recall spoken medical instructions 2 standard hypothetical video scenarios wound care gastroesophageal reflux disease gerd diagnosis assessedthe majority 716 participants adequate health literacy skills individuals performed significantly better correctly recalling spoken information marginal low literacy scenarios wound caremean sd low 25 13 vs marginal 35 13 vs adequate 46 11 p0001 gerd low 4217 vs marginal 52 17 vs adequate 65 17 p0001 regardless literacy level overall recall information poor recognized pain 285 fever 282 signs infection 405 participants correctly recalled take gerd pillsmany older adults may difficulty remembering verbal instructions conveyed clinical encounters found lower health literacy poorer ability recall information greater provider awareness impact low health literacy recall spoken instructions may guide providers communicate effectively employ strategies confirm patient understanding