- Title
- The impact of health literacy on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and utility assessment among patients with rheumatic diseases
- Creator
- Zhang, Xu-Hao; Li, Shu-Chuen; Fong, Kok-Yong; Thumboo, Julian
- Relation
- Value in Health Vol. 12, Issue S3, p. S106-S109
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1524-4733.2009.00640.x
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc.
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2009
- Description
- Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of health literacy (HL) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and utility assessment among patients with rheumatic diseases. Methods: HL was measured by the rapid estimate of adult literacy in medicine (REALM) and was characterized as low or adequate. HRQoL and utility scores were assessed using the SF-36, SF-6D, and EQ-5D. Comparisons of sociodemographics and HRQoL in patients with low or adequate HL were made using t test, chi-square, or Mann–Whitney U tests. Spearman’s correlation and partial correlations were used to study the relationship between HL, HRQoL, and utility scores, with significant correlations further explored using multiple linear regression models. Results: Data were analyzed from 199 subjects. Patients with adequate HL had significantly higher education levels, better dwelling status, lower disease activity, and better physical functioning (PF). There was a significant although weak correlation between HL level and PF. After adjustment, HL level was shown to independently explain 3.7% of the variance in the PF score. Nevertheless, there was no impact of HL on utility assessment or other HRQoL domains. Conclusion: HL did not impact HRQoL in general, but was found to have a weak impact on the PF of patients with rheumatic diseases.
- Subject
- health literacy; health utility; HRQoL; rheumatic disease
- Identifier
- uon:7472
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/807696
- Identifier
- ISSN:1098-3015
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