The Health Literacy Management Scale (HeLMS): A measure of an individual's capacity to seek, understand and use health information within the healthcare setting

• Published in: Patient education and counseling Vol. 91; no. 2; pp. 228 - 235
• Main Authors: Jordan, Joanne E, Buchbinder, Rachelle, Briggs, Andrew M, Elsworth, Gerald R, Busija, Lucy, Batterham, Roy, Osborne, Richard H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.05.2013
• Subjects: Attitude to Health; Communication; Concept mapping; Factor Analysis, Statistical; General practitioners; Health care; Health education; Health information; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Literacy; Health Services Research - methods; Humans; Internal Medicine; Measurement; Models, Theoretical; Nursing; Patient communication; Patient reported outcomes; Psychometric properties; Psychometrics; Questionnaire design; Surveys and Questionnaires - standards; Australia; Measurement; Patient communication; Health literacy; Patient reported outcomes; Questionnaire design
• ISSN: 0738-3991; 1873-5134
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2013.01.013

Abstract Objective Health literacy refers to an individual's ability to seek, understand, and use health information. This paper describes the development and psychometric testing of the Health Literacy Management Scale (HeLMS). Methods Content areas were identified from a conceptual framework derived from interviews and concept mapping. Items were generated from statements from concept mapping participants. Construction ( N = 333) and replication ( N = 350) samples were participants in chronic disease self-management programs and emergency department attendees. Factor analysis was used to refine constructs and define psychometric properties. Results Consultations generated 8 scales each with 4–5 items: Understanding health information, Accessing GP healthcare services, Communication with health professionals, Being proactive and Using health information, Patient attitudes towards their health, Social support, and Socioeconomic considerations. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated good fit of the data with the model (RMSEA = 0.07, SRMR = 0.05, CFI = 0.97) and all domains had high internal consistency (Cronbach alpha > 0.82). Conclusion The HeLMS has acceptable psychometric properties and assesses a range of health literacy constructs important to patients when seeking, understanding and using health information within the healthcare system. Practice implications The HeLMS presents a new approach to assessing health literacy in healthcare settings.