Stacey Sheridan|David J. Halpern|Anthony J. Viera|Nancy D Berkman|Katrina E Donahue|Karen Crotty
Interventions for Individuals with Low Health Literacy: A Systematic Review
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|Duke University|University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|RTI International|University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|RTI International
us department health human services recently called action health literacy important first step defining current state literature interventions designed mitigate effects low health literacy performed updated systematic review examining effects interventions authors reported specifically designed mitigate effects low health literacy searched medline cumulative index nursing allied health literature cinahl psycinfo educational resources information center eric cochrane library databases 2003 forward health literacy 1966 forward numeracy two reviewers independently reviewed titles abstracts fulltext articles inclusion included studies examined outcomes health literacy level met prespecified criteria one reviewer abstracted article information evidence tables second checked accuracy two reviewers independently rated study quality using predefined criteria among 38 included studies found multiple discrete design features improved comprehension one studies eg presenting essential information first presenting information higher number better adding icon arrays numerical information adding video verbal narratives studies also found consistent direct fair goodquality evidence intensive selfmanagement interventions reduced emergency department visits hospitalizations intensive self diseasemanagement interventions reduced disease severity evidence effects interventions outcomes either limited mixed multiple interventions show promise mitigating effects low health literacy could considered use clinical practice