Jessica R. Schumacher|Allyson G. Hall|Terry C. Davis|Connie L. Arnold|Robert D. Bennett|Michael S. Wolf|Donna L. Carden
Potentially Preventable Use of Emergency Services
University of Wisconsin–Madison|University of Florida|Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport|Florida College|Northwestern University|Florida College
background limited health literacy barrier understanding health information identified risk factor overuse emergency department ed association health literacy access primary care services patients presenting ed fully explored objective examine relationship health literacy access primary care reasons ed use among adults presenting emergency care methods structured interviews included health literacy assessment performed involving 492 ed patients one southern academic medical center unadjusted multivariable logistic regression models assessed relationship health literacy 1 access personal physician 2 doctor office visits 3 ed visits 4 hospitalizations 5 potentially preventable hospital admissions results adjusting sociodemographic health status limited health literacy reported fewer doctor office visits odds ratio or06 95 confidence interval ci 0410 greater ed use or16 95 ci 1024 potentially preventable hospital admissions or17 95 ci 1027 adequate health literacy controlling insurance employment status fewer doctor office visits remained significantly associated patient health literacy or05 95 ci 0309 patients limited health literacy reported preference emergency care services perceived better conclusions among ed patients limited health literacy independently associated fewer doctor office visits preference emergency care policies reduce ed use consider steps limit barriers improve attitudes toward primary care services