Impact of Health Literacy on Colorectal Cancer Screening Knowledge
Author Information
Author(s): Miller David P Jr, Brownlee Caroline D, McCoy Thomas P, Pignone Michael P
Primary Institution: Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Does low health literacy affect patients' knowledge or receipt of colorectal cancer screening?
Conclusion
Patients with limited literacy skills are less likely to be knowledgeable about colorectal cancer screening compared to those with adequate literacy.
Supporting Evidence
- 48% of patients had limited literacy skills.
- Limited literacy patients were less likely to name or describe any CRC screening test (50% vs. 96%).
- Limited literacy patients were 44% less likely to be knowledgeable of CRC screening.
Takeaway
People who have trouble reading and understanding health information often don't know much about tests for colon cancer. This means doctors need to help them understand these tests better.
Methodology
Pilot survey study assessing knowledge and receipt of CRC screening among patients aged 50 and older.
Potential Biases
Possible selection bias if low literacy patients were reluctant to participate.
Limitations
Small sample size and potential selection bias may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Most participants were female (72%), African-American (58%), and had household incomes less than $25,000 (87%).
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Confidence Interval
95% CI 35% to 61%
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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