Grose Elysia, Bains Silkan, Chan Yvonne, Trac Jessica, Anderson Jennifer, Lee John M, Zirkle Molly, Lin R Jun
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2025 Jan-Dec;54:19160216251330630. doi: 10.1177/19160216251330630. Epub 2025 Jun 21.
ObjectiveHealth literacy is defined as the ability of individuals to gain access to, understand, and use information in ways that promote and maintain good health. This study aimed to assess the health literacy of patients seeking care at an adult tertiary care Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) clinic and its correlation with sociodemographic information.Study DesignProspective cross-sectional study.SettingTertiary care OHNS clinic.ParticipantsNew adult patients who presented to a tertiary OHNS clinic from July 2022 to March 2023.InterventionsPatients were asked to complete a sociodemographic questionnaire and the BRIEF Health Literacy Screening Tool. The BRIEF is scored out of 20 with scores of 17 and higher showing adequate health literacy.Main Outcome MeasuresBivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine whether sociodemographic variables were associated with health literacy.ResultsTwo hundred eighteen patients were recruited (59% females, 32% were above age 65). Although the average score on the BRIEF was 17.0 ± 3.6, about 33% of participants were found to have inadequate health literacy. Non-native English speakers, racial minorities, immigrants, and those with a lower income were more likely to have poor health literacy.ConclusionThis study highlights that a significant number of patients presenting to a tertiary OHNS clinic have inadequate health literacy, with certain socioeconomic factors serving as predictors. Future research is needed to evaluate targeted interventions aimed at improving and advocating for health literacy among OHNS patients.
目的
健康素养被定义为个人获取、理解和以促进及维持良好健康的方式使用信息的能力。本研究旨在评估在成人三级护理耳鼻喉头颈外科(OHNS)诊所就诊的患者的健康素养及其与社会人口统计学信息的相关性。
研究设计
前瞻性横断面研究。
研究地点
三级护理OHNS诊所。
研究对象
2022年7月至2023年3月在三级OHNS诊所就诊的成年新患者。
干预措施
要求患者完成一份社会人口统计学问卷和简短健康素养筛查工具。简短健康素养筛查工具满分为20分,得分17分及以上表明健康素养充足。
主要观察指标
进行双变量和多变量分析以确定社会人口统计学变量是否与健康素养相关。
结果
招募了218名患者(59%为女性,32%年龄在65岁以上)。尽管简短健康素养筛查工具的平均得分为17.0±3.6,但约33%的参与者被发现健康素养不足。非英语母语者、少数族裔、移民和低收入者健康素养较差的可能性更大。
结论
本研究强调,在三级OHNS诊所就诊的相当一部分患者健康素养不足,某些社会经济因素可作为预测指标。未来需要开展研究以评估旨在提高OHNS患者健康素养并为之倡导的针对性干预措施。