Irving Rootman
Literacy and Health in Canada: Is it Really a Problem?
University of Victoria
canada seen international leader literacy health largely result work carried national literacy health program coordinated since 1994 canadian public health association article issue smith haggerty however raises question whether literacy health really serious problem least context health care reported article prevalence low literacy among patients attending family practice centre montreal found 9 considerably lower authors predicted 15 40 5 margin error one conclusion study might low literacy fact large problem context health care authors present arguments reaching conclusion hastily note example instrument used measure literacy rapid estimate adult literacy medicine realm may overestimated literacy patients able correctly pronounce words may understood 1 also suggest sensitive instruments test functional health literacy adults tofhla 2 might permitted detect patients literacy problems 1 indeed quite possible moreover possible even higher levels literacy problems might detected instruments designed measure aural oral literacy exist moment applied addition noted study done one clinic one city canada may reflect literacy levels among patients health care settings across country fact may entirely represent literacy levels clinic study took place potential respondents eliminated authors also acknowledge sample small detect statistically significant association literacy levels selfreported health thus clear premature conclude prevalence literacy difficulties health care settings canada low throughout country kinds settings health consequences patients others much research type conducted authors required reach conclusion authors give us additional reasons pursuing research literacy health one comes important finding readability levels educational materials used practice studied found mean reading level materials grade 115 certainly higher reading levels people low levels literacy according international adult literacy survey ials represents 22 adult population 3 probably challenge slightly literate eg 28 fall second lowest category ials suggests minimum conducting studies regarding readability levels health materials people exposed health contexts including public health ones time might helpful know kinds literacy demands different health contexts place people might include literacy demands might imposed physicians nurses public health officials others require people understand interpret make appropriate decisions based oral communication health information