Effect of Health Literacy on Research Follow-Up

• Published in: Journal of health communication Vol. 20; no. sup2; pp. 83 - 91
• Main Authors: Leak, Cardella, Goggins, Kathryn, Schildcrout, Jonathan S., Theobald, Cecelia, Donato, Katharine M., Bell, Susan P., Schnelle, John, Kripalani, Sunil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 09.10.2015; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Aged; Demographics; Discharge; Female; Health care expenditures; Health education; Health Literacy - statistics & numerical data; Hospitalization; Humans; Lost to Follow-Up; Male; Mental depression; Mental stress; Middle Aged; Socioeconomic Factors; Stress
• ISSN: 1081-0730; 1087-0415; 1087-0415
• DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2015.1058442

Previous research has not examined the effect of health literacy on research subjects' completion of scheduled research follow-up. This article evaluates patient factors associated with incomplete research follow-up at three time points after enrollment in a large, hospital-based prospective cohort study. Predictor variables included health literacy, age, race, gender, education, employment status, difficulty paying bills, hospital diagnosis, length of stay, self-reported global health status, depression, perceived health competence, medication adherence, and health care system distrust. In a sample of 2,042 patients, multivariable models demonstrated that lower health literacy and younger age were significantly associated with a lower likelihood of completing research follow-up interviews at 2-3 days, 30 days, and 90 days after hospital discharge. In addition, patients who had less education, were currently employed, and had moderate financial stress were less likely to complete 90-day follow-up. This study is the first to demonstrate that lower health literacy is a significant predictor of incomplete research follow-up.