Hahn Elizabeth A, Garcia Sofia F, Du Hongyan, Cella David
Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago;
Patient Relat Outcome Meas. 2010 Jul;1:19-27. doi: 10.2147/prom.s9361. Epub 2010 Apr 28.
To evaluate patient attitudes towards literacy screening, agreement between literacy tests, and associations between literacy, informed consent comprehension, and health-related quality of life (HRQL).
Participants completed three literacy tests, read a sample consent form, and reported their HRQL, experiences, and attitudes.
We enrolled 97 cancer patients, of whom 66% were female, 67% were African American, and 65% were high school graduates. Sixty percent of patients with lower reading comprehension had trouble reading health information, and 31% had trouble reading everyday written material. Even patients with higher reading comprehension had trouble reading health information (29%) and everyday written material (10%). Low-literacy patients were more likely to feel anxious about literacy screening. However, the majority of patients (84%) would be willing to have literacy results given to providers. Comprehension of informed consent increased with higher literacy. There were no HRQL differences.
Patients report difficulty comprehending written health information. Literacy assessment is acceptable and it is considered important for providers to be aware of their patients' reading abilities. Patient preference data should be used to improve literacy testing strategies and measures. Enhancing detection of low literacy can facilitate interventions to reduce health disparities.
评估患者对识字筛查的态度、识字测试之间的一致性，以及识字能力、知情同意理解能力与健康相关生活质量（HRQL）之间的关联。
参与者完成三项识字测试，阅读一份样本同意书，并报告他们的HRQL、经历和态度。
我们招募了97名癌症患者，其中66%为女性，67%为非裔美国人，65%为高中毕业生。阅读理解能力较低的患者中，60%在阅读健康信息时有困难，31%在阅读日常书面材料时有困难。即使是阅读理解能力较高的患者，在阅读健康信息（29%）和日常书面材料（10%）时也有困难。低识字能力的患者更容易对识字筛查感到焦虑。然而，大多数患者（84%）愿意将识字测试结果告知医护人员。识字能力越高，对知情同意的理解越好。健康相关生活质量没有差异。
患者报告在理解书面健康信息方面存在困难。识字评估是可以接受的，医护人员了解患者的阅读能力被认为很重要。应利用患者偏好数据来改进识字测试策略和措施。加强对低识字能力的检测有助于采取干预措施以减少健康差距。
