Carol A. Mancuso|Melina Rincon
Impact of health literacy on longitudinal asthma outcomes
Cornell University|Stanford Medicine
impact health literacy longitudinal asthma outcomes knownto measure association health literacy asthma outcomes assess health literacy affects outcomes covariateslongitudinal cohortone hundred seventyfive adult asthma patientsindependent variables measured enrollment included demographic asthma characteristics depressive symptoms selfefficacy asthma knowledge health literacy measured test functional health literacy adults outcomes asthma quality life questionnaire sf36 scores emergency department utilization asthma measured every 3 6 months 2 years effects health literacy outcomes interactions health literacy covariates measured multivariable modelsthe mean age study participants 42 years 83 women less health literacy associated worse quality life worse physical function emergency department utilization asthma 2 years p 05 comparisons multivariable analysis health literacy remain statistically significant outcomes although magnitude effect emergency department utilization remained relatively intact effects quality life functional status became attenuated sequential addition covariates particularly asthma knowledgeless health literacy associated poor longitudinal asthma outcomes relationship direct indirect effects independent variables particularly patients knowledge asthma selfmanagement efforts improve asthma outcomes focus improving literacy skills required learn understand implement effective selfmanagement