Validating Health Literacy and Numeracy Measures in Minority Groups
Rosette J Chakkalakal1, Sneha Venkatraman2, Richard O White3
1Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health, Department of Internal Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Health Literacy Research and Practice
|June 12, 2018
Summary
Health literacy and numeracy tools show varied validity among racial/ethnic minority groups. Objective numeracy measures performed better than subjective health literacy measures in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Medical Education
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Limited validation studies exist for health literacy and numeracy tools among racial/ethnic minorities.
- Accurate assessment of health literacy and numeracy is crucial for effective patient education and management, especially in diverse populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the validity of four common tools: Subjective Numeracy Scale (SNS), Diabetes Numeracy Test (DNT-5), Brief Health Literacy Screen (BHLS), and Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA).
- To compare tool validity by trait (health literacy vs. numeracy) and method (subjective vs. objective) across non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of baseline data from the Partnering to Improve Diabetes Education (PRIDE) study.
- Inclusion of 398 T2DM patients with available race/ethnicity data from middle Tennessee clinics.
- Pearson correlation analyses were used to compare measures by trait and method within racial/ethnic groups and assess convergent validity with education.
Main Results:
- Numeracy measures (SNS, DNT-5) and objective measures (DNT-5, S-TOFHLA) showed significant correlations across all racial/ethnic subgroups.
- Health literacy measures (BHLS, S-TOFHLA) and subjective measures (SNS, BHLS) exhibited nonsignificant correlations among specific minority subgroups (Hispanic, NHB).
- All measures demonstrated a significant positive correlation with education across all groups.
Conclusions:
- Subjective health literacy measures and objective health literacy measures showed weaker correlations compared to objective numeracy measures and subjective numeracy measures, respectively, in minority patients.
- The findings underscore the need for further evaluation of these tools' appropriateness for diverse populations.
- Particular attention is needed for the Brief Health Literacy Screen (BHLS) among Hispanic patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Health Literacy
5.4K
Health literacy is an individual's or a community's capacity to comprehend, receive, read, and use relevant healthcare information and services. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2018) defines health literacy as the cognitive and social skills that determine the ability of individuals to gain access to, understand, and use information in ways that promote and maintain good health. As a result, the WHO helps individuals manage long-term health concerns, participate in preventative...
5.4K
01:25Minor Losses in Pipes
2.0K
In pipe systems, minor losses refer to energy losses arising from components such as valves, bends, fittings, expansions, and other features that disrupt the steady flow of fluid. These disturbances cause energy dissipation through turbulence and resistance, which engineers quantify to manage system efficiency effectively.
Valves play a significant role in generating minor losses by obstructing or redirecting the fluid flow. When a valve is closed or partially closed, it restricts the flow...
Valves play a significant role in generating minor losses by obstructing or redirecting the fluid flow. When a valve is closed or partially closed, it restricts the flow...
2.0K
01:29Reliability and Validity
14.1K
Reliability and validity are two important considerations that must be made with any type of data collection. Reliability refers to the ability to consistently produce a given result. In the context of psychological research, this would mean that any instruments or tools used to collect data do so in consistent, reproducible ways.
14.1K
01:15Data Validation
2.1K
Method validation is a crucial process in analytical chemistry designed to confirm that a given method consistently produces reliable and high-quality results. This process is essential when a method is applied to different sample matrices or when procedural modifications are made, ensuring that the results meet acceptable standards across various applications.
Key parameters for method validation include:
Key parameters for method validation include:
2.1K
01:03Data Validation
6.8K
Data validation is an essential part of a comprehensive assessment. Validation is confirming or verifying and opening the door to gathering more assessment data as it clarifies vague or unclear data. The process of checking and verifying the collected information is called data validation. The primary purpose of data validation is to ensure data is as free from error, bias, and misinterpretation as possible.
Nursing assessment guides are generally based on holistic models rather than medical...
Nursing assessment guides are generally based on holistic models rather than medical...
6.8K
01:11Purpose of Health Records I
1.8K
The vital purpose of health records is to provide a complete and accurate account of a patient's medical history, including communication, diagnostic and therapeutic orders, care planning, research, and quality review.
Here's a breakdown of how health records serve these purposes:
Here's a breakdown of how health records serve these purposes:
1.8K