Prevalence of limited health literacy among irish adults

Abstract

The authors conducted 2 health literacy investigations in Cork, Ireland. Study 1 was undertaken in 5 community pharmacies and the outpatient department of 2 urban hospitals and assessed patients health literacy skills using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) and the Newest Vital Sign (NVS). Study 2 took place in 1 outpatient department and evaluated health literacy using the REALM and the short form of the Test of Functional Health Literacy.in Adults (S-TOFHLA). The authors collected data relating to age, gender, ethnicity, and educational level achieved. All subjects were asked items relating to their ability to use health-specific materials. A total of 1,759 people (61.2% female) completed either Study 1 (n=1,339) or Study 2 (n=420). Limited health literacy ranged from 18.4% (REALM) and 57.2% (NVS) in Study 1, and 21.9% (REALM) and 14.1% (S-TOFHLA) in Study 2 and was associated with increased age and lower educational attainment across all three tools (p