Literacy and Blood Pressure: Do Healthcare Systems Matter?
Author Information
Author(s): Powers Benjamin J, Olsen Maren K, Oddone Eugene Z, Thorpe Carolyn T, Bosworth Hayden B
Primary Institution: Duke University
Hypothesis
Does the relationship between literacy and blood pressure vary across different healthcare systems?
Conclusion
The relationship between patient literacy and systolic blood pressure varies significantly across different models of healthcare delivery.
Supporting Evidence
- Limited literacy is common among patients with chronic conditions.
- Patients with limited literacy had different blood pressure outcomes based on their healthcare system.
- The study included a diverse sample of patients from two healthcare systems.
Takeaway
Some people have trouble reading, and this can affect their blood pressure differently depending on where they get their healthcare.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study of 1224 patients with hypertension from two healthcare systems, comparing literacy and blood pressure outcomes.
Potential Biases
Gender imbalance between the two healthcare systems may confound results.
Limitations
The study may not be generalizable due to the specific patient populations and the nature of the trials.
Participant Demographics
Mean age was 62.3 years, with a balanced distribution of white (52.5%) and non-white (47.2%) patients.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.003
Confidence Interval
95% CI, -4.8 to 2.3 for VAHS; 95% CI, 2.1 to 10.1 for UHS
Statistical Significance
p=0.003
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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