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Exploring health literacy and preferences for risk communication among medical oncology patients.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:To explore adult medical oncology outpatients' understanding of and preferences for the format of health risk information. METHODS:Two surveys, one assessing sociodemographic characteristics and a second survey examining perceptions of risk information. RESULTS:Of the 361 (74%) consenting patients, 210 completed at least one question on risk communication. 17% to 65% of patients understood numeric risk information, depending on the format of the information. More than 50% of people interpreted a "very good" chance of remission as greater than 80%, greater than 90% or 100%. The most preferred format of information was in both words and numbers (38% to 43%) followed by words alone (28% to 30%). CONCLUSION:Numeric risk information is understood by 17% to 65% of respondents, depending on the format. Interpretation of verbal risk information is highly variable, posing a risk of misunderstanding. Provision of information in both words and numbers may assist in aiding comprehension.

SUBMITTER: Carey M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6143261 | biostudies-other | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Exploring health literacy and preferences for risk communication among medical oncology patients.

Carey Mariko M Herrmann Anne A Hall Alix A Mansfield Elise E Fakes Kristy K

PloS one 20180918 9

<h4>Objective</h4>To explore adult medical oncology outpatients' understanding of and preferences for the format of health risk information.<h4>Methods</h4>Two surveys, one assessing sociodemographic characteristics and a second survey examining perceptions of risk information.<h4>Results</h4>Of the 361 (74%) consenting patients, 210 completed at least one question on risk communication. 17% to 65% of patients understood numeric risk information, depending on the format of the information. More ...[more]

PMID: 30226878

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Project description:Low health literacy (HL) is associated with poor healthcare outcomes; mechanisms for these associations remain unclear.To elucidate how HL influences patients' interest in participating in healthcare, medical visit communication, and patient reported visit outcomes.Cross-sectional study of enrollment data from a randomized controlled trial of interventions to improve patient adherence to hypertension treatments. Participants were 41 primary care physicians and 275 of their patients. Prior to the enrollment visit, physicians received a minimal intervention or communication skills training and patients received a minimal intervention or a pre-visit coaching session. This resulted in four intervention groups (minimal patient/minimal physician; minimal patient/intensive physician; intensive patient/minimal physician; and intensive patient/intensive physician).Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine; patients' desire for involvement in decision making; communication behaviors; patient ratings of participatory decision making (PDM), trust, and satisfaction.A lower percentage of patients with low versus adequate literacy had controlled blood pressure. Both groups were similarly interested in participating in medical decision making. Communication behaviors did not differ based on HL except for medical question asking by patients, which was lower among low literacy patients. This was particularly true in the intensive patient /intensive physician group (3.85 vs. 6.42 questions; p = 0.002). Overall, ratings of care didn't differ based on HL; however, in analyses stratified by intervention assignment, patients with low literacy in minimal physician intervention groups reported significantly lower PDM scores than adequate literacy patients.Patients with low and adequate literacy were similarly interested in participating in medical decision making. However, low literacy patients were less likely to experience PDM in their visits. Low literacy patients in the intensive physician intervention groups asked fewer medical questions. Patients with low literacy may be less able to respond to physicians' use of patient-centered communication approaches than adequate literacy patients.

Project description:BackgroundAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens our ability to treat and prevent infectious diseases worldwide. A significant driver of AMR is antimicrobial use (AMU) in human and veterinary medicine. Therefore, education and awareness of AMR among antimicrobial prescribers is critical. Human and animal health professionals play important roles in the AMR issue, both as contributors to the emergence of AMR, and as potential developers and implementers of effective solutions. Studies have shown that engaging stakeholders prior to developing communication materials can increase relevance, awareness, and dissemination of research findings and communication materials. As future antimicrobial prescribers, medical and veterinary students' perspectives on AMR, as well as their preferences for future communication materials, are important. The first objective of this study was to explore medical and veterinary student perceptions and understanding of factors associated with emergence and spread of AMR. The second objective was to identify key messages, knowledge translation and transfer (KTT) methods, and dissemination strategies for communication of AMR information to these groups.MethodsBeginning in November 2018, focus groups were conducted with medical and veterinary students in Ontario, Canada. A semi-structured format, using standardized open-ended questions and follow-up probing questions was followed. Thematic analysis was used to identify and analyze patterns within the data.ResultsAnalyses showed that students believed AMR to be an important global issue and identified AMU in food-producing animals and human medicine as the main drivers of AMR. Students also highlighted the need to address society's reliance on antimicrobials and the importance of collaboration between different sectors to effectively reduce the emergence and transmission of AMR. When assessing different communication materials, students felt that although infographics provide easily digestible information, other KTT materials such as fact sheets are better at providing more information without overwhelming the target audiences (e.g., professional or general public).ConclusionOverall, the study participants felt that AMR is an important issue and emphasized the need to develop different KTT tools for different audiences. This research will help inform the development of future communication materials, and support development of AMR-KTT tools tailored to the needs of different student and professional groups.

Project description:BackgroundHealth literacy is a multidimensional concept that is considered a primary public health concern. This concept is often neglected in research, and the evidence regarding health literacy in college students is limited. The aim of this study was two-fold: to determine the needs and limitations of health literacy among college students and to explore the relationships among the nine dimensions of health literacy and sociodemographic factors, including age, gender, nationality, year of study, field of study, smoking status, history of chronic diseases, use of on-campus gym, and the intention to exercise on-campus.MethodsThis study was conducted using a cross-sectional approach. A total of 520 college students participated in this study. The average age was 21.03 years (SD = 2.29), with 47.5% males and 52.5% females. Data were collected using a demographics questionnaire and the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ). In addition to descriptive statistics, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and follow-up analyses were performed to explore any statistically significant mean differences among levels of health literacy and sociodemographic factors.ResultsThe levels of health literacy on the nine HLQ scales were lower than the levels reported in the literature. Multivariate analysis showed a significant effect of age, gender, smoking status, year of study, and field of study on the level of health literacy. Follow-up analyses revealed that female students, students from the health-related faculties, and those who do not smoke have higher levels of health literacy compared to their counterparts. A detailed comparison between the levels of the HLQ scales was made based on students' demographic characteristics. The field of study had the most prominent effect on the level of college students' health literacy; mean differences were statistically significant (p < .001), and effect sizes were large (ranging from .66 to 1.35 for the nine scales of the HLQ).ConclusionCollege students' health literacy is influenced by demographic characteristics. Such variations could amplify some of the existing health disparities. The implications of the findings on health, health promotion, and interprofessional education are discussed.

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Exploring health literacy and preferences for risk communication among medical oncology patients.

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Exploring health literacy and preferences for risk communication among medical oncology patients.

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