Assessing Health Literacy Levels of Hispanic Patients with Type 2 Diabetes at a Federally Qualified Health Center in Rural Kansas

Abstract

Problem: Hispanic adults have been associated with the lowest levels of health literacy (U.S. Department of HHS, 2010). The high prevalence of low health literacy and type 2 diabetes (T2D) among the Hispanic population likely contributes to the disproportionate burden of diabetes-related complications among Hispanic populations (Chukwueke & Cordero-MacIntyre, 2010). Project Aims: The aim of this project was to determine the readability level of current diabetes education materials provided to patients and assess the health literacy level of Hispanic patients with T2D in a health center in rural Kansas. Project Method: The Fry Readability Formula was used to assess the readability level of current diabetes patient education materials (PEMs) in both English and Spanish. The Newest Vital Sign (NVS) screening tool was administered to 25 Hispanic patients with T2D. NVS scores of 0 to 3 were indicated at risk for limited health literacy; while, those scored 4 to 6 were considered to have adequate health literacy. Results: The Fry Readability Formula estimated diabetes PEMs were written at an eighth-grade reading level. Out of the 25 patients who participated in the study, 20 (80%) scored at risk for limited health literacy via the NVS assessment. Further analysis found a significant association between health literacy level and gender (p=0.0092) and native language (p=0.041227). Conclusion: Findings from this study revealed an overall gap between the average health literacy level of the study sample and the estimated readability level of current diabetes PEMs. In order to improve the delivery of diabetes self-management education and support (DSME/S) among this population, providers must be aware of patients with limited health literacy and incorporate more effective teaching strategies to ensure an understanding.