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Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Risks associated with low functional health literacy in an Australian population
Robert J Adams1, Sarah L Appleton, Catherine L Hill
1Health Observatory, Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, and Rheumatology Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia. robert.adams@adelaide.edu.au
Objective:
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.
Main Outcome Measures:
Newest Vital Sign as a measure of FHL, self-reported general health status, and use of health services.
Results:
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
Conclusion:
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.
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