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Physician overestimation of patient literacy: A potential source of health care disparities

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Physician overestimation of patient literacy: A potential source of health care disparities
Authors: Kelly, P. Adam pakelly@bcm.edu, Haidet, Paul1
Source: Patient Education & Counseling. Apr2007, Vol. 66 Issue 1, p119-122. 4p.
Subject Terms: *Patient education, *Health education, Primary care, Medical care
Abstract: Abstract: Objective: To investigate physician overestimation of patient literacy level in a primary care setting. Methods: The study sample consisted of 12 non-academic primary care physicians and 100 patients from a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital in Houston, Texas. Patient literacy level was measured on a 1–4 scale using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM). Physicians rated each patient''s literacy level on a corresponding scale. Chi-square was used to test for association of patient race/ethnicity and gender with: (1) patient REALM level and (2) discrepancy between patient REALM level and physician rating of patient literacy level. Results: Patient REALM level was not statistically significantly associated with patient race/ethnicity or gender. Physicians overestimated the REALM level for 54% of African American, 11% of white non-Hispanic, and 36% of other race/ethnicity patients (p <.01). Conclusion: Physicians commonly overestimate patients’ literacy levels, and this apparently occurs more often with minority patients, and particularly with African Americans, than with white non-Hispanic patients. This discordance in estimation of patient''s literacy level may be a source of disparities in health care. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
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Database: Education Research Complete
Description
Abstract:Abstract: Objective: To investigate physician overestimation of patient literacy level in a primary care setting. Methods: The study sample consisted of 12 non-academic primary care physicians and 100 patients from a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital in Houston, Texas. Patient literacy level was measured on a 1–4 scale using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM). Physicians rated each patient''s literacy level on a corresponding scale. Chi-square was used to test for association of patient race/ethnicity and gender with: (1) patient REALM level and (2) discrepancy between patient REALM level and physician rating of patient literacy level. Results: Patient REALM level was not statistically significantly associated with patient race/ethnicity or gender. Physicians overestimated the REALM level for 54% of African American, 11% of white non-Hispanic, and 36% of other race/ethnicity patients (p <.01). Conclusion: Physicians commonly overestimate patients’ literacy levels, and this apparently occurs more often with minority patients, and particularly with African Americans, than with white non-Hispanic patients. This discordance in estimation of patient''s literacy level may be a source of disparities in health care. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
ISSN:07383991
DOI:10.1016/j.pec.2006.10.007