Health Observatory, Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, and Rheumatology Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Med J Aust. 2009 Nov 16;191(10):530-4. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb03304.x.
To measure the level of functional health literacy (FHL) in an Australian population, and to explore the level of risk associated with level of FHL.
DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional, random population survey administered to 2824 South Australians aged>or=15 years, September-October 2008.
Newest Vital Sign as a measure of FHL, self-reported general health status, and use of health services.
24% of respondents were at risk of limited FHL, and 21% had a high likelihood of inadequate FHL; this increased with age (>or=65 years, 50% v 25-44 years, 11%). In multiple logistic regression models, a high likelihood of inadequate FHL was significantly more common among those with lower education (left school<or=15 years of age, odds ratio [OR], 8.1; 95% CI, 4.8-13.6); with lower annual income (<$20 000, OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 2.3-7.4); who were born in countries other than Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Ireland; and with poorer health status (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.2). Inadequate FHL was significantly less common among females (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.5-0.8). People with inadequate or at-risk FHL were significantly more likely to report having diabetes, cardiac disease or stroke, and significantly less likely to have recently attended a doctor. Respondents aged>or=65 years with inadequate FHL were more likely to have been admitted to hospital (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.1-4.5).
Many Australians are likely to have limited health literacy, and this is a risk to effective health care delivery and health improvement across the community.
测量澳大利亚人群的功能性健康素养（FHL）水平，并探讨与 FHL 水平相关的风险水平。
设计、设置和参与者：2008 年 9 月至 10 月，对 2824 名年龄>或=15 岁的南澳大利亚人进行横断面、随机人群调查。
使用最新生命体征（Newest Vital Sign）作为 FHL 的衡量标准，自我报告的总体健康状况以及使用卫生服务的情况。
24%的受访者存在有限的 FHL 风险，21%的受访者存在 FHL 不足的高风险；这种风险随着年龄的增加而增加（>或=65 岁，50%比 25-44 岁，11%）。在多变量逻辑回归模型中，文化程度较低（在校时间<或=15 年，比值比[OR]，8.1；95%可信区间[CI]，4.8-13.6）、年收入较低（<$20000，OR，4.1；95%CI，2.3-7.4）、出生于澳大利亚、新西兰、英国和爱尔兰以外的国家、健康状况较差（OR，1.6；95%CI，1.2-2.2）的人更常见 FHL 不足。女性（OR，0.6；95%CI，0.5-0.8）中 FHL 不足的情况明显较少。FHL 不足或存在风险的人更有可能报告患有糖尿病、心脏病或中风，而最近去看医生的可能性较小。FHL 不足且年龄>或=65 岁的受访者更有可能住院（OR，2.2；95%CI，1.1-4.5）。
许多澳大利亚人可能存在有限的健康素养，这对整个社区有效提供医疗保健和改善健康状况构成了风险。
