Date of Presentation
5-4-2023 12:00 AM
College
School of Osteopathic Medicine
Poster Abstract
Background: Over one-third of the US population exhibit limited health literacy, leading to negative health outcomes and lifestyle choices. By employing the NVS assessment, RCHC sought to compare the health literacy levels of uninsured patients at their facility with those of insured patients at the Rowan Family Medicine office in Hammonton, NJ. This study aimed to assess specific factors that may influence health literacy levels.
Methods: This is an IRB-approved study which surveyed patients enrolled at the RCHC and Rowan Family Medicine Office between February 2021 and March 2023. Patients were given a nutrition label and verbally answered the NVS Assessment. Data was recorded via Qualtrics forms, and analysis was conducted with Fisher’s Exact Test in IBM SPSS Statistics.
Results: A statistically significant increase in prevalence of limited literacy compared to adequate literacy among patients below the poverty line (p=0.038) and Spanish speaking patients (p=0.041). No significant difference between limited literacy and adequate literacy based on location of care, insurance status, gender, or education level.
Conclusions: Income below the poverty line and Spanish as a primary language played a significant role in health literacy in our patient population. Since limited health literacy is highly prevalent in the US, it is important that physicians allot more time to explain medical terms to patients whose primary language is not English or who are from a low socioeconomic status. In the future, the RCHC hopes to design and implement a health literacy course for patients.
Keywords
Health Literacy, Socioeconomic Factors, Health Education, Hispanic or Latino
Disciplines
Health and Medical Administration | Health Services Administration | Health Services Research | Medicine and Health | Medicine and Health Sciences | Public Health | Public Health Education and Promotion
Document Type
Poster
Included in
Health and Medical Administration Commons, Health Services Administration Commons, Health Services Research Commons, Medicine and Health Commons, Public Health Education and Promotion Commons
Effects of Income and Language on Health Literacy: A Study Between a Student-Run Free Clinic and a Family Medicine Office
Background: Over one-third of the US population exhibit limited health literacy, leading to negative health outcomes and lifestyle choices. By employing the NVS assessment, RCHC sought to compare the health literacy levels of uninsured patients at their facility with those of insured patients at the Rowan Family Medicine office in Hammonton, NJ. This study aimed to assess specific factors that may influence health literacy levels.
Methods: This is an IRB-approved study which surveyed patients enrolled at the RCHC and Rowan Family Medicine Office between February 2021 and March 2023. Patients were given a nutrition label and verbally answered the NVS Assessment. Data was recorded via Qualtrics forms, and analysis was conducted with Fisher’s Exact Test in IBM SPSS Statistics.
Results: A statistically significant increase in prevalence of limited literacy compared to adequate literacy among patients below the poverty line (p=0.038) and Spanish speaking patients (p=0.041). No significant difference between limited literacy and adequate literacy based on location of care, insurance status, gender, or education level.
Conclusions: Income below the poverty line and Spanish as a primary language played a significant role in health literacy in our patient population. Since limited health literacy is highly prevalent in the US, it is important that physicians allot more time to explain medical terms to patients whose primary language is not English or who are from a low socioeconomic status. In the future, the RCHC hopes to design and implement a health literacy course for patients.