Health Literacy: Development of A Korean Health Literacy Assessment Tool

의료정보이해능력 (Health Literacy): 한국형 측정도구 개발을 위한 예비연구

  • Kim, Sung-Soo (Human Medicine and Social Science Unit, Pusan National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Sang-Hyun (Dept. of Sociology, Pusan National University) ;
  • Lee, Sang-Yeoup (Medical Education Unit, Pusan National University College of Medicine)
  • 김성수 (부산대학교 의과대학 인문사회의학실) ;
  • 김상현 (부산대학교 사회학과) ;
  • 이상엽 (부산대학교 의과대학 의학교육실)
  • Published : 2005.12.30

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to develop a Korean Health Literacy Assessment Tool (KHLAT) and to encourage researchers in the public health education field to look at the concept of health literacy as one of the possible strategies to design and develop more effective health education campaigns in Korea. Methods: Data with 117 sample subjects was collected from various classes such as continuing adult classes and undergraduate classes. REALM, well-known and widely used health literacy tool in the US, was translated and modified for cultural considerations. The Korean modified version of the REALM was administrated to the targeted subjects who were asked to fill the survey questionnaires. Results: The findings appear to be consistent with the OCED reading literacy among Koreans. Health literacy among Korean seems to be more serious problem than we have expected before and this could be a major obstacle to effective health public education campaigns. Conclusions: In order to develop better public health education materials as well as health education programs, it may be critical for us as health educators to inform future physicians as well as practicing physicians of the important link between health literacy and the effective health education(or communication). It is now time for us to make sincere efforts in understanding health literacy one of effective strategies toward improving the public health.

Keywords

References

  1. 정유석. 천안지역 청소년 흡연률 및 금연교육의 효과. 가정의학회지 2003;24(2):150-7
  2. Baker DW, Parker RM, Williams MV, Clark WS, Nurss J. The relationship of patient reading ability to self-reported health and use of health services. Am J Public Health 1997;87(6):1027-30 https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.87.6.1027
  3. Baker DW et al. The health care experience of patients with low literacy. Arch Fam Med 1996;5(6):329-334 https://doi.org/10.1001/archfami.5.6.329
  4. Davis TC et al. Intervention to increase mammography utilization in a public hospital. J Gen Intern Med 1998;13(4): 230-233 https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.1998.00072.x
  5. Davis TC et al. Parent comprehension of polio vaccine information pamphlets. Pediatrics 1996;97(6 Pt 1):804-810
  6. Davis TC et al. Rapid assessment of literacy levels of adult primary care patients. Fam Med 1991;23(6):433-435
  7. Davis TC et al. A polio immunization pamphlet with increased appeal and simplified language does not improve comprehension to an acceptable level. Patient Educ Couns 1998;33(1):25-37 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0738-3991(97)00053-0
  8. Davis TC et al. Rapid estimate of adult literacy in medicine: A shortened screening instrument. Fam Med 1993;25(6):391-395
  9. Davis TC, Michielutte R, Askov EN, Williams MV, Weiss BD. Practical assessment of adult literacy in health care. Health Educ Behav 1998;25(5):613-624 https://doi.org/10.1177/109019819802500508
  10. DiMatteo MR, Prince LM, Taranta A. Patients' perceptions of physicians' behavior: Determinants of patient commitment to the therapeutic relationship. J Community Health 1979;4(4): 280-290 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01319022
  11. Doak CC, Doak LG, Root GH. Teaching patients with low literacy skills. 2nd Ed. Philadelphia, PA: JB, Lippincott Co, 1996
  12. Doak LG, Doak CC. Teaching patients with low literacy skills. American Academy of Family Practice Patient Education Conference. San Antonio. Tex: American Academy of Family Practice, 1991
  13. Gazmararian JA et al. Health literacy among medicare enrollees in a managed care organization. JAMA 1999;281(6):545-551 https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.281.6.545
  14. Glazer HR, Kirk LM, Bosler FE. Patient education pamphlets about prevention, detection, and treatment of breast cancer for low literacy women. Patient Edue Couns 1996;27(2):185-189 https://doi.org/10.1016/0738-3991(95)00834-9
  15. Greenberg D. A critical look at health literacy. Adult Basie Education 2001;11(2):67-79
  16. Kirsch IS, Jungeblut A, Jenkins L, Kolstad A. Adult literacy in America: A first look at the results of the national adult literacy survey, U.S. Department of Education, NCES, Washington DC. 1993
  17. Korean Educational Development Institute. Education & Human Resources Indicators in Korea, Seoul. 2004
  18. McVea KL, Venugopal M, Crabtree BF, Aita V. The organization and distribution of patient education materials in family medicine practices. J Fam Pract 2000;49(4):319-326
  19. Meade CD, Diekmann J, Thornhill DG. Readability of American Cancer Society patient education literature. Oncol Nurs Forum 1992;19(1):51-55
  20. Oh SW, Shin SA, Yun YH, Yoo T, Huh BY. Cut-off point of BMI and obesity-related comorbidities and mortality in middle-aged Koreans. Obes Res 2004;12 (12):2031-2040 https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2004.254
  21. Parker RM, Baker DW, Williams MV, Nurss JR. The test of functional health literacy in adults: A new instrument for measuring patients' literacy skills. J Gen Intern Med 1995;10(10):537-541 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02640361
  22. Parker RM, Schwartzberg LG. What patients do-and don't-understand. Postgrad Med 2001;109(5):13-16
  23. Paskett ED, Tatum C, Wilson A, Dignan M, Velez R. Use of a photo essay to teach low-income African American women about mammography. J Cancer Educ 1996;11(4):216-220
  24. Plimpton S, Root J. Materials and strategies that work in low literacy health communication. Public Health Rep 1994;109(1):86-92
  25. Stewart MA. Effective physician-patient communication and health outcomes: a review. CMAJ 1995;152(9):1423-1433
  26. Streiffer RH, Nagle JP. Patient education in our offices. J Fam Pract 2000;49(4):327-328
  27. Terry PE, Healey ML. The physician's role in educating patients: a comparison of mailed versus physician-delivered patient education. J Fam Pract 2000;49(4): 314-318
  28. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Clear & simple: Developing effective print materials for low literate readers. Office of Cancer Communications; National Cancer Institute. NIH Publication 1994; No. 95-3594. Available from: URL: http://oc.nci.nih.gov/services/Clear_and_Simple/HOME.HTM
  29. Von Korff M, Gruman J, Schaefer J, Curry SJ, Wagner EH. Collaborative management of chronic illness. Ann Intern Med 1997;127(12):1097-1102 https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-127-12-199712150-00008
  30. Weiss BD et al. Illiteracy among Medicaid recipients and its relationship to health care costs. J Health Care Poor Underserved 1994;5(2):99-111 https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2010.0272
  31. WHO. Regional Framework for Health Promotion 2002-2005. 2005. Available from: URL: http://bbs,wpro,who.int/hpr/docs/rf_section5.pdf
  32. Williams MV, Baker DW, Parker RM, Nurss JR. Relationship of functional health literacy to patients' knowledge of their chronic disease: A study of patients with hypertension and diabetes. Arch Intern Med 1998;158(2):166-172 https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.158.2.166
  33. Williams MV et al. Inadequate functional health literacy among patients at two public hospitals. JAMA 1995;274(21):1677-1682 https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.274.21.1677