163387 Health Literacy and the Comprehension of Printed Patient Education Materials for African Americans with Diabetes

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Dawn Beatrice Griffin, PhD, MSPH, CHES , National Center for Health Marketing/Office of the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Connie Kohler, DrPH , Dept. of Health Behavior, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Toya V. Russell, PhD, MSPH , Research Development Office, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Sharina Person, PhD , Division of Preventive Medicine, Univ. of Alabama, Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
B. Lee Green, PhD, MEd , Office of Institutional Diversity, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL
Melissa M. Galvin, PhD , Health Behavior, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, Birmingham, AL
How health information is communicated to individuals with chronic disease is very important. Adults with low literacy are more likely to have complex health problems, live in poverty, and have fewer years of education, resulting in communication difficulties that can affect health outcomes. This issue presents a serious problem because printed patient education materials are often used as a primary health communication source in providing education about management of various chronic diseases. While an association between health literacy levels and health outcomes has been established, there is little empirical basis for the assumption that low health literacy is actually a causal factor in poor health outcomes and not merely confounded with low socioeconomic status. One mechanism linking health literacy to health outcomes might be comprehension of patient education materials. There is a need to demonstrate that individuals' health literacy predicts their ability to comprehend printed patient education materials. This study explored the relationship between health literacy and comprehension of information presented in a printed patient education booklet for African Americans with diabetes. In addition, the effect of educational attainment on comprehension and health literacy also was examined. Study participants (n=71) were recruited from two churches in East Georgia. Statistically significant relationships were found between: health literacy and comprehension; educational attainment and comprehension; and educational attainment and health literacy. These findings support that healthcare providers and health educators should be cognizant of their target population's health literacy level and tailor education interventions towards their population.

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the relationship between health literacy, comprehension and educational attainment. Develop strategies for designing appropriate print materials to patients with low health literacy levels

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.