The article states, "according to data released last month by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, only 12% of adults have the skills to proficiently manage their own medical care." This is found in AHRQ's National Healthcare Disparities Report (2007) [http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nhdr07/nhdr07.pdf page 94 (or 100 if you use the pdf page numbers)].

This information comes from the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, Health Literacy Component, 2003. When looking at the totals for adults in each health literacy level, by race and ethnicity, "only 12% of adults had proficient health literacy." AHRQ adds, "In other words, nearly 9 in 10 adults may lack the skills needed to manage their health and prevent disease."


Doug Seubert
Quality Improvement & Care Management
Family Health Center/Community Heath Access

Marshfield Clinic
1000 N Oak Avenue
Marshfield, WI 54449
www.marshfieldclinic.org/quality

(715) 387-5096 (1-800-782-8581 ext. 75096)
seubert.douglas at marshfieldclinic.org


------Original Message------
From:	"Sandra Smith" <sandras at u.washington.edu>
Date:	Wed May 28, 2008 -- 09:31:42 AM
To:	healthliteracy at nifl.gov
Subject:	[HealthLiteracy 2039] Re: AMA Medical News Article on HealthLiteracy

Please share the   citation for the study showing 12% have English
proficiency to manage their own care. Thanks ahead.

 

Sandra Smith, MPH CHES

800-444-8806  206 -441-7046

www.BeginningsGuides.net

sandras at u.washington.edu

 

From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of David J. Rosen
Sent: Saturday, May 24, 2008 5:43 AM
To: The Health and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [HealthLiteracy 2034] AMA Medical News Article on Health Literacy

 

Health Literacy Colleagues

 

I would like to call your attention an article, dated June 2, 2008
(interesting dateline) in the American Medical news of the 

AMA . It poses this question:

 

Should physicians adjust the communication level for each patient, or are
comprehension difficulties so common that simpler language should be used
with everyone?

 

Doctors are being urged by some researchers to administer  a short (on
average, just under 3 minutes)  literacy test to their patients to increase
the doctors' health literacy awareness. Others argue that while appropriate
for research,  this does not make sense for clinical practice. They argue
for plain language for all patients. 

 

How many patients are proficient in managing their own medical care? One
recent study found that 

 

only 12% of adults have the skills to proficiently manage their own medical
care.

 

The article mentions that the AMA Foundation will release a report in July
on assessing the country's health literacy.

 

You'll find the article at:

 

HYPERLINK
"http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/06/02/hlsd0602.htm"http://www.ama-ass
n.org/amednews/2008/06/02/hlsd0602.htm

 

 

David J. Rosen

HYPERLINK "mailto:djrosen at comcast.net"djrosen at comcast.net

 





 

 

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