TY - JOUR
T1 - Health literacy of HIV-positive individuals enrolled in an outreach intervention
T2 - Results of a cross-site analysis
AU - Drainoni, Mari Lynn
AU - Rajabiun, Serena
AU - Rumptz, Maureen
AU - Welles, Seth L.
AU - Relf, Michael
AU - Rebholz, Casey
AU - Holmes, Leah
AU - Dyl, Angela
AU - Lovejoy, Travis
AU - Dekker, Debra
AU - Frye, Alison
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported in part by grants from the Health Resources Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, grant #s 6 H97HAOO190-04-02, 5 H07 HA 01195-02-00, and 5 H97HA00235-05-00. Institutional support and work space for the lead author was also provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Health Services Research and Development Service. The views expressed in this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the funding agencies or the U.S. government.
Funding Information:
Three outreach programs funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) program as part of a multisite demonstration project participated in the current study. The demonstration programs were designed to provide outreach services to hard-to-reach HIV-infected persons in order to increase their engagement and retention in HIV primary medical care. The three outreach programs included in the current study focused on assessing and improving the health literacy of their program enrollees. The goal of the study was to determine health literacy levels of program participants and to identify demographics, risk factors, and health indicators associated with different levels of health literacy. In addition to assisting the programs to develop a profile of potential clients in need of targeted services, findings from this analysis would help the programs make determinations about incorporating health literacy interventions into their programs on a long-term basis.
PY - 2008/4
Y1 - 2008/4
N2 - This article examines health literacy among a group a HIV-positive persons at risk for receiving suboptimal health care due to histories of substance abuse, mental illness, incarceration, and unstable housing or homelessness. Participants receiving services from three outreach programs funded as part of a multisite demonstration project were screened for health literacy using the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA) at program enrollment. The goal of this analysis was to identify demographics, risk factors, and health indicators associated with different levels of health literacy. Results indicated that although fewer than 30% of the sample scored in the marginal or inadequate range for health literacy, participants with these lower levels of health literacy were more likely to be African American or Latino/a, heterosexual, speak Spanish as their primary language, and have less than a high school education. The disparities in health literacy found in this study point to a need to assess level of health literacy and provide culturally sensitive health literacy interventions for persons with chronic diseases such as HIV. In addition to offering these services within HIV health care settings, health professionals can use other potential venues for health literacy assessment and intervention including substance abuse treatment and community-based social service, education, and training programs. Health care and support service providers also must become aware of the importance of health literacy when caring for all patients with HIV, particularly those most likely to have low health literacy.
AB - This article examines health literacy among a group a HIV-positive persons at risk for receiving suboptimal health care due to histories of substance abuse, mental illness, incarceration, and unstable housing or homelessness. Participants receiving services from three outreach programs funded as part of a multisite demonstration project were screened for health literacy using the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA) at program enrollment. The goal of this analysis was to identify demographics, risk factors, and health indicators associated with different levels of health literacy. Results indicated that although fewer than 30% of the sample scored in the marginal or inadequate range for health literacy, participants with these lower levels of health literacy were more likely to be African American or Latino/a, heterosexual, speak Spanish as their primary language, and have less than a high school education. The disparities in health literacy found in this study point to a need to assess level of health literacy and provide culturally sensitive health literacy interventions for persons with chronic diseases such as HIV. In addition to offering these services within HIV health care settings, health professionals can use other potential venues for health literacy assessment and intervention including substance abuse treatment and community-based social service, education, and training programs. Health care and support service providers also must become aware of the importance of health literacy when caring for all patients with HIV, particularly those most likely to have low health literacy.
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U2 - 10.1080/10810730801985442
DO - 10.1080/10810730801985442
M3 - Article
C2 - 18569359
AN - SCOPUS:45949103708
SN - 1081-0730
VL - 13
SP - 287
EP - 302
JO - Journal of health communication
JF - Journal of health communication
IS - 3
ER -