Matthew K. Wynia|Chandra Y. Osborn
Health Literacy and Communication Quality in Health Care Organizations
American Medical Association|Vanderbilt University
relationship limited health literacy poor health may due part poor communication quality within health care delivery organizations explored relationship health literacy status receiving patientcentered communication clinics hospitals serving communicationvulnerable patient populations thirteen health care organizations nationwide distributed survey 5929 patients patients completed seven items assessing patientcentered communication one third also completed three items assessing health literacy majority patients selfreported health literacy challenges reporting problems learning medical condition difficulty understanding written information 53 lack confidence completing medical forms 61 needing someone help read hospitalclinic materials 57 logistic regression models showed adjustment patient demographic characteristics health care organization type patients limited health literacy 28 79 less likely adequate health literacy report health care organization always provides patientcentered communication across seven communication items using scaled composite items limited health literacy remained associated lower reported communication quality results suggest improving communication quality health care organizations might help address challenges facing patients limited health literacy also highlight efforts address needs patients limited health literacy sensitive range communication challenges confronting patients caregivers