Haunnah Rheault|Fiona Coyer|Lee Jones|Ann Bonner
Health literacy in Indigenous people with chronic disease living in remote Australia
Queensland University of Technology|Queensland University of Technology|Queensland University of Technology|Queensland University of Technology
health literacy strongly associated health outcomes important health policy service delivery low health literacy reported 59 australian adults however national data health literacy aboriginal torres strait islander atsi peoples atsi population australia experience notable gap health outcomes compared nonindigenous australians due part higher prevalence chronic diseases health outcome gap pronounced rural remote locations study aims establish health literacy profile atsi adults chronic disease living remote northwest queensland australia investigate associations health literacy questionnaire hlq domains selfreported chronic disease demographic characteristicsusing crosssectional design 200 atsi adults diagnosis chronic diseases cardiovascular disease diabetes respiratory disease andor chronic kidney disease recruited two sites assistance aboriginal health workers data collected using hlq multidimensional 44 item instrument assess nine domains health literacy demographic health data also collected analysis variance using backwards modelling used determine predictors health literacyparticipants mostly male 535 aged 19 89 years prevalent chronic disease cardiovascular disease 74 followed diabetes 675 half 62 two chronic diseases least one independent predicator nine health literacy domains age number chronic diseases gender level education highly significant predictors health literacyimproved health literacy enable individuals take active role health understanding health literacy atsi adults crucial first step findings assist australian healthcare organisations review health literacy responsiveness examine ways improve patients needs health capabilities better support people engage effective selfmanagement chronic diseases