BACKGROUND: Although African American women have a lower incidence of breast cancer, they suffer a 30% higher age-adjusted mortality. Lower health literacy levels diminish women's ability to engage in cancer prevention and detection activities. METHODS: We conducted a focus group with lay health workers, following their completion of structured literacy assessments. RESULTS: The women's performance established the feasibility and acceptability of incorporating literacy assessments. However, the findings identified perceived limits in existing measures and identified attributes that should be included in cancer-focused literacy assessments. CONCLUSIONS: A cancer-specific literacy assessment could assist community health workers in measuring women's functional cancer literacy.
BACKGROUND: Although African American women have a lower incidence of breast cancer, they suffer a 30% higher age-adjusted mortality. Lower health literacy levels diminish women's ability to engage in cancer prevention and detection activities. METHODS: We conducted a focus group with lay health workers, following their completion of structured literacy assessments. RESULTS: The women's performance established the feasibility and acceptability of incorporating literacy assessments. However, the findings identified perceived limits in existing measures and identified attributes that should be included in cancer-focused literacy assessments. CONCLUSIONS: A cancer-specific literacy assessment could assist community health workers in measuring women's functional cancer literacy.
Authors: Alia A Al-Tayyib; Susan M Rogers; James N Gribble; Maria Villarroel; Charles F Turner Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2002-09 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: S B Fawcett; A Paine-Andrews; V T Francisco; J A Schultz; K P Richter; R K Lewis; E L Williams; K J Harris; J Y Berkley; J L Fisher Journal: Am J Community Psychol Date: 1995-10