Kelly R. Ylitalo|M. Renée Umstattd Meyer|Beth A. Lanning|Christina During|Ryan Laschober|Jackson O. Griggs
Simple screening tools to identify limited health literacy in a low-income patient population
Baylor University|Baylor University|Baylor University|Baylor University|Family Healthcare|Health Center|Family Healthcare|Health Center
adults limited health literacy difficulty managing chronic conditions higher hospitalization rates healthcare expenditures simple screening tools developed limited work evaluated instruments among lowincome populations study assessed health literacy among primary care patients federally qualified health center compared single screening question perceived difficulty completing medical formsa crosssectional survey administered englishspeaking patients 40 years newest vital sign nvs 6item questionnaire singleitem screening question perceived difficulty completing medical forms assessed health literacy logistic regression used identify predictors inadequate health literacy receiver operator curves compared nvs singleitem questionparticipants n 406 average aged 585 years 113 722 female identified hispaniclatino 192 nonhispanic white 310 nonhispanic black 409 89 406 participants 335 825 completed nvs patients declined nvs likely older p 001 male p 01 137 adequate health literacy older adults hispanic nonhispanic black patients patients missed office visits reporting less confidence completing medical forms significantly likely inadequate health literacy perceived confidence completing medical forms demonstrated low sensitivity high specificity multiple thresholdsthis first investigation compare nvs confidence completing medical forms question many patients declined health literacy assessments health literacy screening may identify patients need additional health education resources