Canadian adaptation of the Newest Vital Sign^©, a health literacy assessment tool

Abstract

Overall, the computerized Canadian NVS performed as well as the interviewer-administered version for assessing health literacy levels of English- and French-speaking participants. This Canadian adaptation of the NVS provides Canadian researchers and public health practitioners with an easily administered health literacy assessment tool that can be used to address the needs of Canadians across health literacy levels and ultimately improve health outcomes.

A randomized controlled trial examining consumers’ perceptions and opinions on using different versions of a FoodFlip© smartphone application for delivery of nutrition information

“…Baseline data collection comprised of self-reported socio-demographic variables (including gender, age, ethnicity, self-reported height/weight to calculate body mass index (BMI), education, health literacy measured using the Newest Vital Sign© (NVS) questionnaire, income, province, language primarily spoken at home, living with children). Newest Vital Sign© is a sixquestions health literacy questionnaire based on the NFt and has been validated for use in Canada [56]. Based on NVS score (a maximum score of six), participants were categorized as follows: a) low health literacy (score 0-1), b) "possible" low health literacy (score 2-3), or c) "adequate" health literacy (score 4-6) [56].…”

“…Newest Vital Sign© is a sixquestions health literacy questionnaire based on the NFt and has been validated for use in Canada [56]. Based on NVS score (a maximum score of six), participants were categorized as follows: a) low health literacy (score 0-1), b) "possible" low health literacy (score 2-3), or c) "adequate" health literacy (score 4-6) [56]. The Newest Vital Sign© was adapted for online use and no audio was provided for questions.…”

Integrating a Health Literacy Lens into Nutrition Labelling Policy in Canada

“…Health Canada adapted the NVS for use in Canada as a web-based, bilingual (English, French) computerized tool [21]. The electronic interface integrates audio to deliver all written information (i.e., each of the 6 questions and each of the multiple-choice options for each question), a format that does not require subjects to read the instructions or questions [21]. The tool also includes an introductory slide that walks the participant through all interactive elements on the screen.…”

“…The Canadian adaptation of the NVS [21] supports a recruitment strategy for qualitative and quantitative consumer-based research, which generates a primary pool of research participants reflecting the health literacy level of Canadians (approximately 60% marginal vs. 40% adequate) [26]. This extends the consumer research capacity beyond the common considerations of low education and low income, to address the health literacy needs of the increasingly diverse Canadian population, with interventions aimed at improving their knowledge and understanding [11].…”

“…The generalizability of data collected with online panels, however, is uncertain. The integration of the Canadian adaptation of the NVS [21] as a screening tool within these market research panels has the capacity to generate a representative sample of the Canadian population in terms of health literacy status, gender, age, first language and province/territory of residence [23].…”