Health Literacy Measurement: A Proposed Research Agenda

Pleasant, Andrew; McKinney, Julie; Rikard, R. V.

doi:10.1080/10810730.2011.604392

Cited by 148 publications

(160 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Theoretical frameworks that advance our understanding of health literacy and how it relates to health-service use and health outcomes are clearly needed (Pleasant et al, 2011). Theoretical frameworks provide the necessary basis for reliable measurement and the development of interventions to improve health literacy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pleasant, McKinney, and Rickard (2011) indicated that there is a lack of true theoretical frameworks that explain health literacy. Theory should be the foundation for developing reliable and valid measures of health literacy, which will allow the field to better study and understand the role of health literacy in health behavior change.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…However, few illustrate the full continuum of relations among predictors, moderators, mediators, and outcomes of health literacy all in one theory or framework (Pleasant, 2011).…”

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confidence: 99%

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The Health Literacy Skills Framework

Squiers

Peinado

Berkman

et al. 2012

Journal of Health Communication

244

240

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Health literacy is on the public health agenda. The goal to "improve the health literacy of the population" was included as an objective in Healthy People 2010 and 2020 Objectives. In 2004, the Institute of Medicine released Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion, which recommended that "the Department of Health and Human Services and other government and private funders should support research leading to the development of causal models explaining the relationship among health literacy, the education system, the health system, and relevant social and cultural systems" (Nielsen-Bohlman, Panzer & Kindig, 2004, p. 55). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' 2010 National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy reinforces the need for conceptual advances in the field by calling for the development and implementation of health literacy Health Literacy Skills Framework 31interventions on the basis of theories and models, drawing from such related disciplines as communication, education, cognitive science, and medical sociology (p. 44).Pleasant, McKinney, and Rickard (2011) indicated that there is a lack of true theoretical frameworks that explain health literacy. Theory should be the foundation for developing reliable and valid measures of health literacy, which will allow the field to better study and understand the role of health literacy in health behavior change. This lack of theory has caused researchers to define health literacy in many different ways (Peerson & Saunders, 2009) and, thus, studies vary significantly depending on the definition and measures used (DeWalt, Berkman, Sheridan, Lohr, & Pignone, 2004;Peerson & Saunders, 2009;Pignone, DeWalt, Sheridan, Berkman, & Lohr, 2005).The absence of a common definition and understanding of health literacy may have slowed the field's progress in developing measures and conducting solid methodological research. There are a variety of models and frameworks that describe factors associated with health literacy skills (Baker, 2006;Mancuso, 2008;Nutbeam, 2000;Paasche-Orlow & Wolf, 2007;von Wagner, Steptoe, Wolf & Wardle, 2009). A comprehensive health literacy theory or framework may spur more professional discussions to help lay the foundation for a new era of theory-driven research.The majority of these frameworks illustrate the effects that health literacy has on health-related outcomes (Lee, Arozullah, & Cho, 2004;Manganello, 2008;Nutbeam, 2000;Paasche-Orlow & Wolf, 2007;Rootman et al., 2002; Schillenger, 2001;von Wagner et al., 2009). However, few illustrate the full continuum of relations among predictors, moderators, mediators, and outcomes of health literacy all in one theory or framework (Pleasant, 2011). PurposeThe purpose of this article is to introduce a framework for conceptualizing health literacy that builds on existing theoretical frameworks. We undertake three activities in the article:1. First, we review and synthesize the several existing theoretical frameworks for health literacy and describe their strengths and weaknesses. 2. Se...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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The Health Literacy Skills Framework

Squiers

Peinado

Berkman

et al. 2012

Journal of Health Communication

244

240

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“…The multiple issues that were identified in regards to the measurement of HL have been reported elsewhere [56,57] but have yet to be addressed in research examining HL and TDM.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Future research may benefit from the consideration, or incorporation, of Pleasant and colleagues [56] recommendations that the measurement of HL should: (1) be "explicitly built on a testable theory or conceptual framework of health literacy"; (2) explore core literacy skills (i.e., reading, writing, numeracy, speaking, and listening); (3) "measure on a continual, not a categorical basis"; (4) treat health literacy as a 'latent construct'; (5) honour the principle of compatibility (i.e., use measures appropriate for the setting); and (6) "allow comparisons to be commensurate across contexts" [56 (p15-17) ].…”

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confidence: 99%

Empirical relationships between health literacy and treatment decision making: A scoping review of the literature

Malloy-Weir

Charles

Gafni

et al. 2015

Patient Education and Counseling

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Becoming Literate in Health Literacy

Carmona

Pleasant²

2018

JAMA Surg

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First, we would like to commend the authors for taking on this complex issue of the relationship between health literacy and surgical outcomes. 1 As a fellow surgeon and professor, I (R.C.) know that surgeons are rarely singled out for exceptional communication skills. I am happy that my colleagues are entering the field of health literacy.We are both aware that clear, succinct, understandable, and health-literate preoperative and postoperative instructions can be a significant determinant of the outcomes and the cost of care. Health literacy affects every person, health professional, and type of prevention or care. Yet, health literacy remains an afterthought or academic discussion rather than a common and essential daily practice that is integrated into every encounter. [2][3][4] While one of us (R.C.) served as Surgeon General of the United States, publishing reports and providing hundreds of presentations annually, it became evident that translating complex science in a health-literate and culturally competent manner was the only way to effectively reach people. Only by addressing and embracing health literacy can the United States and the world help people make sustainable and informed changes in their behavior to improve quality and quantity of life at a decreased cost. 5

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Health Literacy Measurement: A Proposed Research Agenda

Cited by 148 publications

References 38 publications

The Health Literacy Skills Framework

The Health Literacy Skills Framework

Empirical relationships between health literacy and treatment decision making: A scoping review of the literature

Becoming Literate in Health Literacy

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