Health literacy after traumatic brain injury: characterisation and control comparison

Background Little is known about health literacy in traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors. The aims of this study were to compare health literacy in individuals with TBI with that of a control group; to examine the association between health literacy in individuals with TBI and demographic, injury, and cognitive factors; and compare the relationship between health literacy and physical and mental health outcomes. Methods A cross-sectional observational study design was used. Adults (≥18years) were recruited from an outpatient research centre in Victoria, Australia. There were 209 participants with a complicated mild to severe TBI at least 1year previously (up to 30years 6months) and 206 control participants. Results Individuals with TBI did not have poorer health literacy than controls (IRR=1.31, P =0.102, CI95% [0.947, 1.812]). Further analysis could not be completed due to the highly skewed Health Literacy Assessment Using Talking Touchscreen Technology - Short Form (Health LiTT-SF) data. Conclusion Health literacy performance in individuals with TBI was not significantly different to controls. Premorbid education may provide a critical cognitive reserve upon which TBI survivors can draw to aid their health literacy. These findings are specific to the Health LiTT-SF measure only and require replication using more comprehensive health literacy measures in culturally diverse samples.