Health Literacy
Identifying Medicare Beneficiaries with Poor Health Literacy Skills: Is a Short Screening Index Feasible?
Research Report
Judith Hibbard, Dr.P.H., University of Oregon, Department of Planning, Public Policy, and Management
Jessica Greene, Ph.D., University of Oregon
Martin Tusler, M.A., University of Oregon
June 2005
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In an era in which health care consumers are being asked to bear greater responsibility for their choices, the ability to make good use of information in order to make appropriate and satisfying decisions is becoming ever more critical. Health literacy deficits contribute to unnecessary health care costs by undermining consumers’ ability to take an effective role in their own care. Identifying those with low literacy and providing them with special help should be a high priority. The three-item screening index is a strong indicator of health literacy level.
This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper represents a first step toward the development of a screening tool that could be applied in a clinical setting or a Medicare counseling center to identify people who need extra assistance in following instructions, using information, and making choices. The findings indicate that the approach is feasible, and the results suggest that additional research with larger, more diverse populations is warranted. (22 pages)
Pub ID: 2005-01