Health Literacy and Oral Health Knowledge

描述(由申请者提供)：健康素养被定义为能够解释和预测一个人获取、理解和应用健康信息的能力的属性的组合。大约有9000万美国成年人缺乏这些必要的技能。到目前为止，对健康素养的研究一直使用阅读识别测试或阅读理解和算术测试来对健康素养状况进行分类。没有一项研究包括写作、口语或听力技能，也没有一项研究包括文化因素或基本概念知识--所有这些都被认为有助于健康素养。缺乏基本的概念知识数据尤其重要，因为知道如何预防和管理疾病不仅取决于一个人的阅读理解和算术技能，还取决于一个人将这些信息置于有意义的背景下的能力。研究人员假设口腔健康差异受到健康素养的影响，尽管很少有研究支持这一观点。拟议研究项目的总体目标是在口腔健康的背景下研究健康素养，同时在分析中包括基本概念知识的测量。研究项目的具体目标是：1)开发一个有效的工具来评估口腔健康和疾病的基本概念知识；2)开发一个有效的工具来评估口腔疾病预防和管理知识；以及3)确定基本概念知识在多大程度上作为阅读理解和计算以及口腔疾病预防和管理知识之间联系的有效修饰符。这两个知识工具将在一个专家小组的指导下开发，并在试点测试期间进行可靠性和有效性测试。将在巴尔的摩大都会地区的成年人中进行概率抽样，测试阅读理解/计算能力与口腔疾病预防和管理知识之间的联系。公共卫生相关性：成功完成将展示基本概念知识如何与阅读理解/算术相互作用，以及它如何与口腔疾病预防和管理信息知识相关联。挖掘这一联系将促进口腔健康研究中对健康素养的理解，并将指导为所有健康素养水平的人开发适当的健康信息。预计这些结果最终将改善美国的口腔健康并消除差异。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Health literacy is defined as a combination of attributes that can explain and predict one's ability to access, understand, and apply health information. Approximately 90 million American adults lack these necessary skills. To date, studies of health literacy have used tests of reading recognition or tests of reading comprehension and numeracy to categorize health literacy status. No studies have included writing, speaking, or listening skills, and none have included cultural factors or basic conceptual knowledge - all thought to contribute to health literacy. The lack of basic conceptual knowledge data is particularly important because knowing how to prevent and manage disease depends not only on one's reading comprehension and numeracy skills, but also on one's ability to place that information in a meaningful context. Researchers hypothesize that oral health disparities are influenced by health literacy, although little research has been done to support that position. The overall goal of the proposed research project is to study health literacy in an oral health context while including a measure of basic conceptual knowledge in the analysis. The specific aims of the proposed research project are to: 1) develop a valid instrument to assess basic conceptual knowledge of oral health and illness; 2) develop a valid instrument to assess knowledge of oral disease prevention and management; and 3) determine to what extent basic conceptual knowledge exists as an effect modifier of the association between reading comprehension and numeracy and knowledge of oral disease prevention and management. The two knowledge instruments will be developed with the guidance of an expert panel and tested for reliability and validity during pilot testing. Associations between reading comprehension/numeracy and knowledge of oral disease prevention and management will be tested among a probability sample of adults from the Baltimore metropolitan area. Public health relevance: Successful completion will show how basic conceptual knowledge interacts with reading comprehension/numeracy, and how it is associated with knowledge of oral disease prevention and management information. Deterrmining this association will advance understanding of health literacy in oral health research and will guide the development of appropriate health information for persons with all levels of health literacy. It is anticipated that these results will ultimately improve oral health and eliminate disparities in the United States.