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Health literacy predicts medication adherence
Author(s) -
Murray M. D.,
Wu J.,
Tu W.,
Clark D. O.,
Weiner M.,
Morrow D. G.,
Brater D. C.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1016/j.clpt.2003.11.288
Subject(s) - health literacy , medicine , literacy , test (biology) , univariate analysis , reading comprehension , reading (process) , family medicine , gerontology , multivariate analysis , psychology , health care , paleontology , pedagogy , political science , law , economics , biology , economic growth
Vision and reading comprehension would seem to be important determinants of medication adherence. We assessed whether vision, reading, and health literacy predict medication adherence in 242 adults (> 18 years of age) with cardiovascular disease. Adherence was assessed as the percent of drug taken during six months to one year using electronic monitors. Vision was tested using the Snellen test (score range: 1 to 100). Ability to read was assessed using a previously validated instrument (range: 0 to 2). Health literacy was assessed using the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (range: 0 to 36). Higher scores indicate better performance on all assessments. Patients were 60 ± 11 years of age, 73% female, 63% African‐American, and had 11 ± 2 years of education Mean adherence was 68% ± 27%, vision 64 ± 18, and reading 1.6 ± 0.6. The health literacy score was 27 ± 11 with 74% of patients classified as having adequate health literacy. Univariate predictors of adherence included higher health literacy score (p = 0.005) or literacy level (adequate vs. inadequate, p = 0.001). In the multiple variable model controlling for demographic factors, health literacy score significantly (p = 0.007) predicted medication adherence. Health literacy is a predictor of adherence in patients with cardiovascular disease. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2004) 75 , P76–P76; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2003.11.288