The relationship between health literacy and health disparities: A systematic review

PLoS ONE

Volumn 10, Issue 12, 2015, Pages

  Mantwill, Sarah ^a   Monestel Umaña, Silvia ^a   Schulz, Peter J ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF LUGANO   (Switzerland)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

CINAHL; CONTROLLED STUDY; ETHNICITY; HEALTH DISPARITY; HEALTH LITERACY; HUMAN; HUMAN EXPERIMENT; MEDICATION COMPLIANCE; MEDLINE; PUBLICATION; RACE; SYNTHESIS; SYSTEMATIC REVIEW; ATTITUDE TO HEALTH; ETHNIC GROUP;

ETHNIC GROUPS; HEALTH KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, PRACTICE; HEALTH LITERACY; HEALTH STATUS DISPARITIES; HUMANS;

EID: 84956930161     PISSN: None     EISSN: 19326203     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145455     Document Type: Article

References (72)

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2010). Healthy People 2020 - Disparities. Washington, DC. Available: http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/foundation-health-measures/Disparities. Accessed 20 August 2015
2. Braveman PA. Health disparities and health equity: concepts and measurement. Annu Rev Public Health. 2006; 27:167-194. PMID: 16533114
3. Keppel K, Pamuk E, Lynch J., Carter-Pokras O, Kim I, Mays V., et al. Methodological issues in measuring health disparities. Vital and Health Stat. Series 2, Data evaluation and methods research. 2005; 141:1.
4. Braveman PA, Cubbin C, Egerter S., Williams DR, Pamuk E. Socioeconomic disparities in health in the United States: what the patterns tell us. Am J Public Health. 2010; 100:186-196.
5. Kennedy BP, Kawachi I, Glass R., Prothrow-Stith D. Income distribution, socioeconomic status, and self-rated health in the United States: multilevel analysis. Bmj. 1998; 317: 917-921. PMID: 9756809
6. Nielsen-Bohlman L., Panzer AM, Kindig DA Health literacy: a prescription to end confusion. Committee on Health Literacy, Board on Neuroscience and Behavioral Health. Institute of Medicine; 2004.
7. Baker DW. Reading between the lines. J Gen Intern Med. 1999; 14: 315-317. PMID: 10337042
8. Schillinger D, Barton LR, Karter A.J., Wang F., Adler N. Does literacy mediate the relationship between education and health outcomes? A study of a low-income population with diabetes. Public Health Rep. 2006; 121: 245-254. PMID: 16640146
9. Berkman ND, Sheridan SL, Donahue K.E., Halpern DJ, Crotty K. Low health literacy and health outcomes: an updated systematic review. Ann Intern Med. 2011; 155: 97-107. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-155-2-201107190-00005 PMID: 21768583
10. Kutner M, Greenburg E, Jin Y., Paulsen C. The Health Literacy of America's Adults: Results from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy. NCES 2006-483. National Center for Education Statistics; 2006.
11. Wolf MS, Gazmararian JA, Baker DW Health literacy and functional health status among older adults. Arch Intern Med. 2005; 165:1946-1952. PMID: 16186463
12. Baker DW, Gazmararian JA, Williams M.V., Scott T., Parker RM, Green D, et al. Functional health literacy and the risk of hospital admission among Medicare managed care enrollees. Am J Public Health. 2002; 92:1278-1283. PMID: 12144984
13. von Wagner C., Knight K, Steptoe A., Wardle J. Functional health literacy and health-promoting behaviour in a national sample of British adults. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2007; 61:1086-1090. PMID: 18000132
14. Koh HK, Berwick DM, Clancy C.M., Baur C., Brach C, Harris LM, et al New federal policy initiatives to boost health literacy can help the nation move beyond the cycle of costly 'crisis care'. Health Aff (Millwood). 2012; 31: doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2011.1169
15. National Institutes of Health. NIH health disparities strategic plan and budget fiscal years 2009-2013. Washington (DC): US Department of Health and Human Services; 2009. Available: http://www.nimhd.nih.gov/aboutncmhd/NIH%20Health%20Disparities%20Strategic%20Plan%20and%20Budget%202009-2013.pdf. Accessed 20 August 2015.
16. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J., Altman DG. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and metaanalyses: the PRISMA statement. Ann Intern Med. 2009; 151: 264-269. PMID: 19622511
17. Rothman RL, Montori VM, Cherrington A, Pignone MP Perspective: the role of numeracy in health care. J Health Commun. 2008; 13: 583-595. doi: 10.1080/10810730802281791 PMID: 18726814
18. Braveman PA. What are health disparities and health equity? We need to be clear. Public Health Rep. 2014; 129: 5.
19. Bakker JP, O'Keeffe KM, Neill AM, Campbell AJ Ethnic disparities in CPAP adherence in New Zealand: effects of socioeconomic status, health literacy and self-efficacy. Sleep. 2011; 34:1595. doi: 10.5665/sleep.1404 PMID: 22043130
20. Chakkalakal RJ, Kripalani S, Schlundt D.G., Elasy TA, Osborn CY. Disparities in using technology to access health information: race versus health literacy. Diabetes Care. 2014; 37: 53-54.
21. Chaudhry SI, Herrin J, Phillips C., Butler J, Mukerjhee S, Murillo J., et al. Racial disparities in health literacy and access to care among patients with heart failure. J Card Fail. 2011; 17:122-127. doi: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2010.09.016 PMID: 21300301
22. Kaphingst KA, Stafford JD, McGowan LDA, Seo J, Lachance C.R., Goodman MS. Effects of racial and ethnic group and health literacy on responses to genomic risk information in a medically underserved population. Health Psychol. 2015; 34; 101. doi: 10.1037/hea0000177 PMID: 25622080
23. Sarkar U, Karter AJ, Liu J.Y., Adler NE, Nguyen R, López A, et al. The literacy divide: health literacy and the use of an internet-based patient portal in an integrated health system - results from the Diabetes Study of Northern California (DISTANCE) J Health Commun. 2010; 15:183-196. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2010.499988 PMID: 20845203
24. Sudore RL, Mehta KM, Simonsick E.M., Harris TB, Newman AB, Satterfield S, et al Limited literacy in older people and disparities in health and healthcare access. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006; 54: 770-776. PMID: 16696742
25. Davis TC, Long SW, Jackson R.H., Mayeaux EJ, George RB, Murphy PW, et al Rapid estimate of adult literacy in medicine: a shortened screening instrument. Fam Med. 1993; 25:391-395. PMID: 8349060
26. Baker DW, Williams MV, Parker R.M., Gazmararian JA, Nurss J. Development of a brief test to measure functional health literacy. Patient Educ Couns. 1999; 38: 33-42. PMID: 14528569
27. Rudd RE. Health literacy skills of US adults. Am J Health Behav. 2007; 31: 8-18.
28. Chew LD, Griffin JM, Partin M.R., Noorbaloochi S., Grill JP, Snyder A, et al. Validation of screening questions for limited health literacy in a large VA outpatient population. J Gen Intern Med. 2008; 23: 561-566. doi: 10.1007/s11606-008-0520-5 PMID: 18335281
29. Weiss BD, Mays MZ, Martz W, Castro K.M., DeWalt DA, Pignone MP, et al. Quick assessment of literacy in primary care: the newest vital sign. Ann Fam Med. 2005; 3: 514-522. PMID: 16338915
30. Bennett IM, Chen J, Soroui J.S., White S. The contribution of health literacy to disparities in self-rated health status and preventive health behaviors in older adults. Ann Fam Med. 2009; 7: 204-211. doi: 10.1370/afm.940 PMID: 19433837
31. Howard DH, Sentell T, Gazmararian JA Impact of health literacy on socioeconomic and racial differences in health in an elderly population. J Gen Intern Med. 2006; 21: 857-861. PMID: 16881947
32. Lee HY, Rhee TG, Kim N.K., Ahluwalia JS. Health literacy as a social determinant of health in asian american immigrants: findings from population-based survey in California. J Gen Intern Med. 2015; 30: 1118-1124. doi: 10.1007/s11606-015-3217-6 PMID: 25715993
33. Sentell T, Baker KK, Onaka A, Braun K. Low health literacy and poor health status in Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Hawai'i. J Health Commun. 2011; 16: 279-294. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2011.604390 PMID: 21951258
34. Sentell T, Braun KL Low health literacy, limited English proficiency, and health status in Asians, Latinos, and other racial/ethnic groups in California. J Health Commun. 2012; 17: 82-99.
35. Omariba DWR, Ng E. Immigration, generation and self-rated health in Canada: On the role of health literacy. Can J Public Health. 2011; 102: 281-285. PMID: 21913583
36. Omariba DWR, Ng E. Health literacy and disability: differences between generations of Canadian immigrants. Int J Public Health. 2014; 60: 389-397. doi: 10.1007/s00038-014-0640-0 PMID: 25549612
37. Wang C, Li H, Li L., Xu D, Kane RL, Meng Q. Health literacy and ethnic disparities in health-related quality of life among rural women: results from a Chinese poor minority area. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2013; 11:153. doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-11-153 PMID: 24020618
38. van der Heide I, Wang J, Droomers M, Spreeuwenberg P, Rademakers J, Uiters E. The relationship between health, education, and health literacy: results from the Dutch adult literacy and life skills survey. J Health Commun. 2013; 18:172-184. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2013.825668 PMID: 24093354
39. Bennett CL, Ferreira MR, Davis T.C., Kaplan J., Weinberger M, Kuzel T, et al Relation between literacy, race, and stage of presentation among low-income patients with prostate cancer. J Clin Oncol. 1998; 16: 3101-3104. PMID: 9738581
40. Song L, Weaver MA, Chen R.C., Bensen JT, Fontham E, Mohler JL. Associations between patient-provider communication and socio-cultural factors in prostate cancer patients: A cross-sectional evaluation of racial differences. Patient EducCouns. 2014; 97: 339-346. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2014.08.019 PMID: 25224313
41. Wolf MS, Knight SJ, Lyons E.A., Durazo-Arvizu R, Pickard SA, Arseven A, et al Literacy, race, and PSA level among low-income men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer. Urology. 2006; 68: 89-93. PMID: 16844451
42. Matsuyama RK, Wilson-Genderson M, Kuhn L., Moghanaki D, Vachhani H, Paasche-Orlow MK. Education level, not health literacy, associated with information needs for patients with cancer. Educ Couns. 2011; 85: 229-236.
43. Hovick SR, Liang MC, Kahlor L. Predicting Cancer Risk Knowledge and Information Seeking: The Role of Social and Cognitive Factors. Health Commun. 2014; 29: 656-668. doi: 10.1080/10410236.2012.763204 PMID: 24093914
44. Freedman RA, Kouri EM, West D.W., Keating NL. Racial/ethnic disparities in knowledge about one's breast cancer characteristics. Cancer. 2015; 121: 724-732. doi: 10.1002/cncr.28977 PMID: 25624186
45. Osborn CY, Paasche-Orlow MK, Davis T.C., Wolf MS. Health literacy: an overlooked factor in understanding HIV health disparities. Am J Prev Med. 2007; 33: 374-378. PMID: 17950402
46. Osborn CY, Cavanaugh K, Wallston K.A., Kripalani S., Elasy TA, Rothman RL, et al. Health literacy explains racial disparities in diabetes medication adherence. J Health Commun. 2011; 16: 268-278. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2011.604388 PMID: 21951257
47. Bailey SC, Pandit AU, Yin S, Federman A., Davis TC, Parker RM, et al. Predictors of misunderstanding pediatric liquid medication instructions Fam Med. 2009; 41:715-21.
48. Yin HS, Johnson M, Mendelsohn A.L., Abrams MA, Sanders LM, Dreyer BP. The health literacy of parents in the United States: a nationally representative study. Pediatrics. 2009; 124: 289-298.
49. Waldrop-Valverde D., Jones DL, Jayaweera D, Gonzalez P., Romero J, Ownby RL. Gender differences in medication management capacity in HIV infection: the role of health literacy and numeracy. AIDS Behav. 2009; 13: 46-52. doi: 10.1007/s10461-008-9425-x PMID: 18618237
50. Waldrop-Valverde D., Osborn CY, Rodriguez A, Rothman R.L., Kumar M., Jones DL. Numeracy skills explain racial differences in HIV medication management. AIDS Behav. 2010; 14: 799-806. doi: 10.1007/s10461-009-9604-4 PMID: 19669403
51. Osborn CY, Cavanaugh K, Wallston K.A., White RO, Rothman RL. Diabetes Numeracy An overlooked factor in understanding racial disparities in glycemic control. Diabetes Care. 2009; 32:1614-1619. doi: 10.2337/dc09-0425 PMID: 19401443
52. Curtis LM, Wolf MS, Weiss K.B., Grammer LC. The impact of health literacy and socioeconomic status on asthma disparities. J Asthma. 2012; 49:178-183. doi: 10.3109/02770903.2011.648297 PMID: 22277072
53. Sperber NR, Bosworth HB, Coffman C.J., Lindquist JH, Oddone EZ, Weinberger M, et al Differences in osteoarthritis self-management support intervention outcomes according to race and health literacy. Health Educ Res. 2013; 28: doi: 10.1093/her/cyt043
54. Pandit AU, Tang JW, Bailey S.C., Davis TC, Bocchini MV, Persell SD, et al Education, literacy, and health: Mediating effects on hypertension knowledge and control. Patient Educ Couns. 2009; 75: 381-385. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2009.04.006 PMID: 19442477
55. Lindau ST, Tomori C, Lyons T., Langseth L, Bennett CL, Garcia P. The association of health literacy with cervical cancer prevention knowledge and health behaviors in a multiethnic cohort of women. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2002; 186: 938-943. PMID: 12015518
56. Sentell T, Braun KL, Davis J, Davis T. Colorectal cancer screening: low health literacy and limited English proficiency among Asians and Whites in California. J Health Commun. 2013; 18: 242-255. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2013.825669 PMID: 24093359
57. Volandes AE, Paasche-Orlow MK, Gillick M.R., Cook EF, Shaykevich S, Abbo ED, et al Health literacy not race predicts end-of-life care preferences. J Palliat Med. 2008; 11: 754-762. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2007.0224 PMID: 18588408
58. Sudore RL, Schillinger D, Knight S.J., Fried TR. Uncertainty about advance care planning treatment preferences among diverse older adults. J Health Commun. 2010; 15:159-171. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2010.499982 PMID: 20845201
59. Waite KR, Federman AD, McCarthy D.M., Sudore R., Curtis LM, Baker DW, et al. Literacy and race as risk factors for low rates of advance directives in older adults. J Am GeriatrSoc. 2013; 61: 403-406. doi: 10.1111/jgs.12134 PMID: 23379361
60. Bains SS, Egede LE Association of health literacy with complementary and alternative medicine use: Across-sectional study in adult primary care patients. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011; 11:138. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-11-138 PMID: 22208873
61. Gardiner P, Mitchell S, Filippelli A.C., Sadikova E., White LF, Paasche-Orlow MK, et al. Health literacy and complementary and alternative medicine use among underserved inpatients in a safety net hospital. J Health Commun. 2013; 18: 290-297. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2013.830663 PMID: 24093362
62. Langford AT, Resnicow K, Roberts J.S., Zikmund-Fisher BJ. Racial and ethnic differences in direct-to-consumer genetic tests awareness in HINTS 2007: sociodemographic and numeracy correlates. J Genet Couns. 2012; 21: 440-447. doi: 10.1007/s10897-011-9478-2 PMID: 22271378
63. Möttus R., Johnson W, Murray C., Wolf MS, Starr JM, Deary IJ. Towards understanding the links between health literacy and physical health. Health Psychol. 2014; 33:164-173. doi: 10.1037/a0031439 PMID: 23437854
64. Smith PC, Brice JH, Lee J. The relationship between functional health literacy and adherence to emergency department discharge instructions among Spanish-speaking patients. J Natl Med Assoc. 2011; 104: 521-527.
65. Kawachi I, Daniels N, Robinson DE Health disparities by race and class: why both matter. Health Aff (Millwood). 2005; 24: 343-352.
66. Chen Y, Feeley TH Numeracy, information seeking, and self-efficacy in managing health: an analysis using the 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). Health Commun. 2014; 29: 843-853. doi: 10.1080/10410236.2013.807904 PMID: 24266723
67. Schulz PJ, Nakamoto K. Health literacy and patient empowerment in health communication: the importance of separating conjoined twins. Patient Educ Couns. 2013; 90: 4-11. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2012.09.006 PMID: 23063359
68. Shieh C. Broome ME, Stump TE. Factors associated with health information-seeking in low-income pregnant women. Women Health. 2010; 50: 426-442. doi: 10.1080/03630242.2010.506152 PMID: 20853218
69. Brega AG, Ang A, Vega W., Jiang L, Beals J, Mitchell CM Special Diabetes Program for Indians Healthy Heart Demonstration Project. et al. Mechanisms underlying the relationship between health literacy and glycemic control in American Indians and Alaska Natives. Patient Educ Couns. 2012; 88: 61-68. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2012.03.008 PMID: 22497973
70. Osborn CY, Paasche-Orlow MK, Bailey S.C., Wolf MS. The mechanisms linking health literacy to behavior and health status. Am J Health Behav. 2011; 35:118. PMID: 20950164
71. Wolf MS, Davis TC, Osborn C.Y., Skripkauskas S., Bennett CL, Makoul G. Literacy, self-efficacy, and HIV medication adherence. Patient Educ Couns. 2007; 65: 253-260. PMID: 17118617
72. Nutbeam D. Defining and measuring health literacy: what can we learn from literacy studies?. Int J Public Health. 2009; 54: 303-305. doi: 10.1007/s00038-009-0050-x PMID: 19641847