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The case for development of a new test of health literacy
Patricia Agre1, Ezra Stieglitz, Glen Milstein
1Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA. agrep@mskcc.org
Purpose/Objectives:
To review the need for reading assessments for patients with cancer, review existing reading assessment tools, and make a case for a new tool specific to patients with cancer.
Data Sources:
Published articles, experiences, and discussions with published authors in the field of literacy.
Data Synthesis:
Valid and reliable tools that assess word recognition and comprehension exist for general use in health care. Word-recognition tests do not always predict comprehension, and a commonly used comprehension test has sections assessing only very low, second year of high school, and graduate-level skills.
Conclusions:
A new tool, developed specifically for patients with cancer, may better capture reading ability and comprehension. It is being evaluated for use in a clinical setting.
Implications For Nursing:
If nurses know their patients' reading levels, they can plan more effectively for teaching self-care and discussing decision making. Outcomes related to health and satisfaction may improve if poor readers are given materials they can understand.
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