Melissa A. Valerio|Edward L. Peterson|Angelina R. Wittich|Christine L.M. Joseph
Examining health literacy among urban African-American adolescents with asthma
The University of Texas at San Antonio|Henry Ford Health System|The University of Texas at San Antonio|Henry Ford Health System
exploratory study assessed health literacy among urban africanamerican high school students improve understanding association adolescent health literacy asthmawe conducted secondary data analysis control group n 181 puff city randomized controlled trial 20062010 webbased intervention promote asthma management among students grades 9 12 validated selfreport 3item health literacy screening instrument completed final online followup survey logistic regression used explore association health literacy demographic characteristics quality life asthma management health care utilizationmultivariate analysis revealed overall inadequate health literacy score associated students likely younger 061 95 ci 044084 medicaid 036 95 ci 017076 least one hospitalization 129 95 ci 107156 lower overall quality life 075 95 ci 059095 lacking confidence filling medical forms needing help reading hospital materials difficulty understanding written information likely rescue inhaler 049 95 ci 025094 one emergency visits 121 95 ci 102143 one hospitalizations 119 95 ci 101141 respectivelythe findings indicate significant association inadequate health literary suboptimal asthma management important advance understanding adolescent health literacy especially atrisk assume asthma selfmanagement tasks move toward independent adult selfcare