Table 1 Frequencies of three levels of health literacy
Health Literacy items | Mean ± SD | Inadequate | Marginal | Adequate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Reading and understanding medical material | ||||
I need assistance to read the hospital release letter or summary of doctor’s appointment | 3.45 ± 1.48 | 30% | 15% | 55% |
I need assistance to understand the doctor’s words | 3.85 ± 1.27 | 18.3% | 18.3% | 63.4% |
I need assistance to complete medical forms | 3.35 ± 1.58 | 35% | 6.7% | 58.3% |
I feel confident completing medical forms a | 2.85 ± 1.62 | 41.7% | 8.3% | 50% |
I need assistance from others to understand my test results | 3.02 ± 1.43 | 40% | 18.3% | 41.7% |
Reading medical information in Hebrew and in English | ||||
I have difficulty reading medical information about my state of health written in English | 2.33 ± 1.50 | 63.3% | 13.3% | 23.4% |
I have difficulty reading medical information about my state of health written in Hebrew | 3.58 ± 1.58 | 23.3% | 16.7% | 60% |
Understanding medical information about the subject’s health | ||||
I understand everything the doctor says during my appointment | 2.25 ± 1.28 | 21.7% | 11.7% | 66..7% |
I understand all the instructions printed on the leaflet attached to my medication | 2.55 + 1.48 | 28.3% | 10% | 61.7% |
I understand the medical terms related to my state of health | 2.92 ± 1.28 | 30% | 28.3% | 41.7% |
Seek and obtain information and compare sources of information | ||||
I know how to obtain all the information I require and to understand my state of health | 2.83 ± 1.33 | 35% | 18.3% | 46.7% |
I know how to seek information about my state of health on the internet | 3.42 ± 1.54 | 53.3% | 8.3% | 38.4% |
I am accustomed to comparing the information I obtain from different sources in order to reach an informed medical decision that is the most appropriate for me | 3.52 ± 1.51 | 56.7% | 13.3% | 30% |