Tetine Sentell|Ruth Pitt|Opal Vanessa Buchthal
Health Literacy in a Social Context: Review of Quantitative Evidence
University of Hawai?i at M?noa|University of Hawaii System|University of Hawai?i at M?noa|University of Hawaii System|University of Hawai?i at M?noa|University of Hawaii System
conceptual literature consistently noted health literacy exists within social context review examined intersection social context health literacy operationalized quantitative empirical researchfollowing prisma preferred reporting items systematic reviews metaanalyses guidelines searched seven databases including pubmed cinahl cumulative index nursing allied health literature using range potentially relevant keywords handsearched bibliographies inclusion criteria quantitative studies design measurement health literacy measurement social context intersected identified 1052 unduplicated articles 34 met inclusion criteriawe found three distinct perspectives intersection health literacy social context common n 23 studies measuring association individual health literacy individual social capital social support social engagement particularly whether social support varied health literacy andor relationship mediated health outcomes another group studies n 6 took perspective health literate definition included social context including access andor use social support domain individual health literacy assessment five studies considered social context health literacy independent property measured beyond individual level two measured communitylevel health literacy three measured health literacy capacityconcordance caregiving dyads studies showed significant definitional measurement complexity overlap dramatic example similar question used across various studies measure 1 health literacy 2 social support domain health literacy 3 social support 4 study outcome distinct associated health literacy potential useful methods social network analyses missing literatureexisting quantitative research health literacy social context supports attention topic review quantified evidence revealed gaps noted limitations identified important questions future research health literacy research practice 201712e41e70this study systemically compiles existing quantitative empirical research 34 articles focusing intersection health literacy social context find considerable measurement complexity current body work topic identify three distinct perspectives researchers taken considering topic information useful future development important research area