Susan Robinson|Debra K. Moser|Michele M. Pelter|Thomas S. Nesbitt|Steven M. Paul|Kathleen Dracup
Assessing Health Literacy in Heart Failure Patients
University of California, San Francisco|University of Kentucky|University of Nevada Reno|University of California, Davis|University of California, San Francisco|University of California, San Francisco
background health literacy important implications health interventions clinical outcomes shortened test functional health literacy adults stofhla timed test used assess health literacy many clinical populations however usefulness heart failure hf patients many elderly compromised cognitive function unknown investigated relationship stofhla total score recommended 7minute limit time limit ntl methods results enrolled 612 ruraldwelling adults hf mean age 660 130 years 588 male characteristics affecting health literacy identified multiple regression percentage correct scores improved 71 86 mean percent change 151 181 7minute ntl scores twentyseven percent patients improved 1 literacy level ntl scores p 001 demographic variables explained 242 111 variance correct scores 7minute ntl scores respectively female gender younger age higher education higher income related higher scores conclusion patients hf may inaccurately categorized low marginal health literacy stofhla time limits enforced new ways assess health literacy older adults needed