Factors Associated With Inadequate Health Literacy: An Academic Otolaryngology Clinic Population Study

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the prevalence of inadequate health literacy among otolaryngology patients and assess the association of individual patient factors with inadequate health literacy. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Tertiary academic medical center otolaryngology clinic. Methods: Adult patients presenting to the clinic were recruited from March to June 2022. Participants completed a validated health literacy questionnaire in the waiting room. Data on age, sex, race, insurance, county of residence, and language were extracted from the electronic medical record, linked to the survey responses, and deidentified for analysis. Logistic regression analyses assessed the association between inadequate health literacy and patient factors. Results: Of 374 participants, the mean age was 54.8 years (SD = 17.8) and most were white (79%) and native English speakers (95%). The median health literacy score was 14.5 (Q1-Q3: 12.0-15.0) and 43 participants (12%) had inadequate health literacy. Bivariate analysis showed the odds of inadequate health literacy were 2.5 times greater for those with public insurance (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24-5.20, P =.011), 3.5 times greater for males (95% CI: 1.75-6.92, P