BACKGROUND People with low literacy and low health literacy have poorer health outcomes. Literacy and health literacy are distinct but overlapping constructs that impact wellbeing. Interventions that target both could improve health outcomes. METHODS/DESIGN This is a cluster randomised controlled trial with a qualitative component. Participants are 300 adults enrolled in basic language, liter...

To date, studies have shown mixed results regarding the relationship between health literacy and diabetic control. This study examined diabetes control in a clinic run by an advanced practice pharmacist with prescriptive authority who was aware of patients’ health literacy level. The primary objective of this study was to determine if patients with diabetes who have adequate health literacy ach...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Few studies have examined health literacy in patients with end stage kidney disease. We hypothesized that inadequate health literacy in a hemodialysis population is common and is associated with poorer access to kidney transplant wait-lists. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS We enrolled 62 Black and White maintenance hemodialysis patients aged 18 to 75. W...

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to assess the published literature on health literacy and diabetes, as well as identify opportunities for technology to strengthen information skills and modify behavior to improve diabetes health outcomes. METHODS Medline (1990-2008), the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (1990-2008), and the Education Resources Information Ce...

BACKGROUND Inadequate health literacy has been associated with poor management of long-term health conditions and has been identified as a key social determinant of health outcomes. However, little is understood about how health literacy might develop over time or the processes by which people may become more health literate. Our objectives were to describe how patients with a long-term conditi...

OBJECTIVE Researchers have identified significant limitations in some currently used measures of health literacy. The purpose of this paper is to present data on the relation of health-related quality of life, health status, and health service utilization to performance on a new measure of health literacy in a nonpatient population. METHODS The new measure was administered to 475 English- and...

International and cultural perspectives of health literacy help deepen the understanding of the global context within which health literacy plays an important role. Throughout this chapter, we explore the significance of health literacy initiatives, interventions, practices, and research for addressing health challenges on a variety of levels in the international and global context. More specif...

The field of health literacy continues to evolve and concern public health researchers and yet remains a largely overlooked concept elsewhere in the healthcare system. We conducted focus group discussions in England UK, about the concept of health literacy with older patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions (mean age  = 73.4 years), carers and health professionals. Our research posed me...

Objective social inequalities in health are believed to arise in part because individuals make use of social and economic resources in order to improve survival. In recent years, health literacy has received increased attention as a factor that can help explain differences in health outcomes. However, examination of life course predictors of health literacy has been limited. Methods life cour...

Introduction: Regarding the importance of health literacy for creating a healthy society, the role of multiple intelligence is among the factors influencing health literacy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of multiple intelligence on health literacy of students. Methods: This is a descriptive correlational study. The statistical population includes students studying at t...