Health in the 'hidden population' of people with low literacy. A systematic review of the literature
Health in the 'hidden population' of people with low literacy. A systematic review of the literature
复制标题
DOI：
10.1186/1471-2458-10-459
复制
发表时间：
2010-08-05
影响因子：
4.5
通讯作者：
Williams, Brian
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Easton, Phyllis;Entwistle, Vikki A.;Williams, Brian
背景资料：功能或健康素养低与健康状况不佳之间存在关联的许多证据来自包括有各种认知困难或不会说其社会主导语言的人的研究。这些人的低功能或健康素养可能在口语对话中很明显。然而，许多其他人可以轻松地谈论健康和其他问题，但在使用书面信息方面存在问题。因此，他们的困难对医疗保健专业人员来说可能不那么明显，创造了一个“隐藏人群”，他们的功能或健康素养问题具有不同的含义，因为他们不太可能被认识和解决。我们的目的是回顾已发表的研究，以调查工作年龄成年人的功能或健康素养低与健康之间的关系，这些成年人可以用主导语言匡威，但书写困难language.Methods:我们检索了综述和电子数据库，以寻找在感兴趣的人群中检查健康相关结局的研究。我们系统地提取数据之间的关系低功能或健康素养和健康状况和各种可能的调解人或主持人的识字对健康的影响。结果：24项研究符合我们的纳入标准。在这一人群中，较低的功能或健康素养被认为与更差的健康状况有关。这可能是由于难以获得医疗保健，以及对健康问题的自我管理较差。目前尚不清楚这些困难是否、如何或在多大程度上是由于功能或卫生知识水平低而导致的知识贫乏所造成的。在功能或健康素养的措施和比较的变化，很难比较研究结果，并建立不同的识字问题的健康outcome.Conclusions的影响：有证据表明，在文献中，低功能或健康素养与健康状况不佳的“隐藏人口”的成年人的识字困难可能是不明显的卫生保健提供者。需要进一步研究，以帮助了解这一群体面临的特殊不利条件，并制定适当的应对措施。
Background: Much of the evidence of an association between low functional or health literacy and poor health comes from studies that include people who have various cognitive difficulties or who do not speak the dominant language of their society. Low functional or health literacy among these people is likely to be evident in spoken conversation. However, many other people can talk readily about health and other issues but have problems using written information. Consequently, their difficulties may be far less evident to healthcare professionals, creating a 'hidden population' whose functional or health literacy problems have different implications because they are less likely to be recognised and addressed.We aimed to review published research to investigate relationships between low functional or health literacy and health in working age adults who can converse in the dominant language but have difficulty with written language.Methods: We searched reviews and electronic databases for studies that examined health-related outcomes among the population of interest. We systematically extracted data relating to relationships between low functional or health literacy and both health status and various possible mediators or moderators of the implications of literacy for health. We developed a narrative review.Results: Twenty-four studies met our inclusion criteria. Lower functional or health literacy in this population was found to be associated with worse health status. This may be mediated by difficulties accessing healthcare, and poorer self-management of health problems. It is currently unclear whether, how or to what extent these difficulties are mediated by poorer knowledge stemming from low functional or health literacy. The variation in functional or health literacy measures and comparisons make it difficult to compare study findings and to establish the implications of different literacy issues for health outcomes.Conclusions: There is evidence in the literature that low functional or health literacy is associated with poor health in the 'hidden population' of adults whose literacy difficulties may not be evident to health care providers. Further research is needed to help understand the particular disadvantages faced by this population and to establish appropriate responses.