BACKGROUND: This study examined the association of knowledge, dental care visits and oral health status with oral health literacy in dental patients. METHODS: The authors administered to adult patients in two private dental offices the short version of the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry-30 (REALD-30), a word-recognition test. An interview provided primary predictor variables for REALD-30 and variables that would serve as controls in multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: About 29 percent of the sample scored below 22 on the 30-point test, a score that the authors defined as a low literacy level. Those with incorrect knowledge (odds ratio [OR] = 5.98; P < .01) and fair-to-poor oral health status (OR = 3.08; P = .06) were more likely to have a low literacy level than were their reference groups. Not having had a dental care visit in the last year was not associated with literacy (OR = 2.26; P = .17). A change from an unfavorable to favorable category for the primary predictor variables would decrease the probability of having a low literacy level by 35 to 61 percent. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of patients may have a low level of oral health literacy, which possibly interferes with their ability to process and understand oral health information. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Providers should identify patients who are having difficulty understanding and using dental health information and address their needs.
BACKGROUND: This study examined the association of knowledge, dental care visits and oral health status with oral health literacy in dental patients. METHODS: The authors administered to adult patients in two private dental offices the short version of the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry-30 (REALD-30), a word-recognition test. An interview provided primary predictor variables for REALD-30 and variables that would serve as controls in multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: About 29 percent of the sample scored below 22 on the 30-point test, a score that the authors defined as a low literacy level. Those with incorrect knowledge (odds ratio [OR] = 5.98; P < .01) and fair-to-poor oral health status (OR = 3.08; P = .06) were more likely to have a low literacy level than were their reference groups. Not having had a dental care visit in the last year was not associated with literacy (OR = 2.26; P = .17). A change from an unfavorable to favorable category for the primary predictor variables would decrease the probability of having a low literacy level by 35 to 61 percent. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of patients may have a low level of oral health literacy, which possibly interferes with their ability to process and understand oral health information. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Providers should identify patients who are having difficulty understanding and using dental health information and address their needs.
Authors: Mark D Macek; Don Haynes; William Wells; Simon Bauer-Leffler; P Ann Cotten; Ruth M Parker Journal: J Public Health Dent Date: 2010 Impact factor: 1.821
Authors: Shoou-Yih Daniel Lee; Brian D Stucky; Jessica Y Lee; R Gary Rozier; Deborah E Bender Journal: Health Serv Res Date: 2010-05-24 Impact factor: 3.402
Authors: H Shonna Yin; Lee M Sanders; Russell L Rothman; Alan L Mendelsohn; Benard P Dreyer; Richard O White; Joanne P Finkle; Stefania Prendes; Eliana M Perrin Journal: Acad Pediatr Date: 2011-11-03 Impact factor: 3.107
Authors: Mark D Macek; Kathryn A Atchison; Haiyan Chen; William Wells; Don Haynes; Ruth M Parker; Shurouk Azzo Journal: Community Dent Oral Epidemiol Date: 2017-03-07 Impact factor: 3.383
Authors: Angela G Brega; Luohua Jiang; Rachel L Johnson; Anne R Wilson; Sarah J Schmiege; Judith Albino Journal: J Racial Ethn Health Disparities Date: 2020-05-08
Authors: A G Brega; J F Thomas; W G Henderson; T S Batliner; D O Quissell; P A Braun; A Wilson; L L Bryant; K J Nadeau; J Albino Journal: Health Educ Res Date: 2015-11-26