St Joseph's Health Care|Western University
determine rate low health literacy rheumatoid arthritis ra population southwestern ontariofor study 432 patients ra contacted 311 completed assessment health literacy levels participants estimated using 4 assessment tools administered following order single item literacy screener sils medical term recognition test meter rapid estimate adult literacy medicine realm shortened test functional health literacy adults stofhlathe rates low literacy estimated stofhla realm meter sils 145 148 141 186 respectively 4 assessment tools statistically significantly correlated stofhla realm meter strongly correlated r 059079 sils demonstrated moderate correlations assessment tools r 033045 multiple linear regression binary logistic regression analyses revealed low levels education lack daily reading activity common predictors low health literacy using nonenglish primary language home found strong predictor low health literacy stofhla realm meter male sex found significant predictor poor performance realm meter stofhlalow health literacy important issue southwestern ontario ra population 1 7 patients ra may necessary skills become involved making decisions regarding personal health rheumatologists aware low health literacy levels patients ra consider identifying patients risk low health literacy