Effects of the Conceptual Model of Health Literacy as a Risk: A Randomised Controlled Trial in a Clinical Dental Context

Abstract

Numerous conceptual models of health literacy have been proposed in the literature, but very few have been empirically validated in clinical contexts. The aim of this study was to test the effects of the conceptual model of health literacy as a risk in a clinical dental context. A convenience sample of 133 Norwegian-speaking adults was recruited. Participants were randomly allocated to an intervention group (n = 64, 54% women, mean age = 50 years) and a control group (n = 69, 49% women, mean age = 46 years). Clinical measurements were conducted pre-intervention and six months post-intervention. In the intervention group, communication regarding patients’ oral health was tailored to their health literacy levels using recommended communication techniques, whereas the control group received brief information not tailored to health literacy levels. The ANCOVA showed significant between-group effects, finding reduced post-intervention mean gingival (p < 0.000) and mean plaque (p < 0.000) indices in the intervention group when controlling for baseline index scores. The adjusted Cohen’s d indicated large effect sizes between the intervention group and the control group for both the mean gingival index (−0.98) and the mean plaque index (−1.33). In conclusion, the conceptual model of health literacy as a risk had a large effect on important clinical outcomes, such as gingival status and oral hygiene. The model may be regarded as a suitable supplement to patient education in populations.

Health Literacy in Context

“…The collection of papers published in this Special Edition includes some that focus on clinical issues (for example, McKenna et al [11], and Stein et al [12]), but we have also attracted a good range of papers that are community-based, give attention to the social context in which health decisions are made, and include communication content that improves our understanding of the wider social determinants of health. However, there remains a dearth of published papers that describe health literacy interventions.…”

Defining the Connotations of Oral Health Literacy Using the Conceptual Composition Method

“…Table 1 summarizes the basic information for the 17 included articles [ 2 , 3 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Among them, 3 papers explained the definition or concept of OHL, and 14 focused on its definition while also exploring its moderators and outcomes.…”

“…Among them, 3 papers explained the definition or concept of OHL, and 14 focused on its definition while also exploring its moderators and outcomes. Ten studies targeted the general population [ 2 , 3 , 10 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 19 , 21 , 23 ], and seven focused on special populations [ 8 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 18 , 20 , 22 ], including low-income adults [ 8 ]; low-income women, infants, and children [ 11 ]; low-income patients undergoing their first pregnancy [ 12 ]; older adults (65 and older) [ 13 , 22 ]; rural adults [ 18 ]; and stomatologists [ 20 ]. Among all the OHL definitions, the one most commonly used was that proposed as part of the 2000 Healthy People 2010 agenda.…”

“…In total, 11 articles [ 2 , 3 , 8 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 23 ] defined OHL as comprising individual abilities or skills, including oral expression, reading, writing, and listening, as well as information acquisition, information processing, information comprehension, and information decision-making, which emphasizes functional OHL, including the ability to use the knowledge acquired to make decisions related to oral health. Oral health information is communicated in a variety of ways.…”

Pharmacotherapy Literacy and Parental Practice in Use of Over-the-Counter Pediatric Medicines

“…Koster et al [23] have developed a RALPH interview guide (Recognizing and Addressing Limited Pharmaceutical Literacy) that provides guidance on the level of skill needed for good medication use and is more suitable for use in a medication specific context, such as a community pharmacy. With this insight, pharmacists could recognize parents with limited pharmacotherapy literacy, and, as proposed in the described conceptual model of health literacy, pharmacotherapy literacy should act as a risk and is important in order to reduce barriers in communication [24].…”