Francisco Soto Mas1, Holly E Jacobson1, Yan Dong1. 1. From the Departments of Family & Community Medicine, Linguistics, and Mathematics & Statistics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the health literacy levels of Hispanic college students. METHODS: Participants were students at a major Hispanic-serving university in the southwestern United States. The design was cross-sectional, and data were collected using the Newest Vital Sign in English. Analyses included frequencies and descriptive statistics, simple and multiple logistic regression, and χ(2)/Fisher exact tests. RESULTS: A total of 331 students participated. The overall Newest Vital Sign mean score was 5.1 (standard deviation 1.18); more than 90% (n = 299) obtained a score equivalent to an "always adequate literacy." A lower percentage than that found by a national survey scored at the "below adequate literacy" level. Language spoken at home was the only covariate that significantly affected test scores (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The overall health literacy level of the participants was higher than the general Hispanic adult population. Investing in the education of Hispanics may help to address disparities in health literacy.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the health literacy levels of Hispanic college students. METHODS:Participants were students at a major Hispanic-serving university in the southwestern United States. The design was cross-sectional, and data were collected using the Newest Vital Sign in English. Analyses included frequencies and descriptive statistics, simple and multiple logistic regression, and χ(2)/Fisher exact tests. RESULTS: A total of 331 students participated. The overall Newest Vital Sign mean score was 5.1 (standard deviation 1.18); more than 90% (n = 299) obtained a score equivalent to an "always adequate literacy." A lower percentage than that found by a national survey scored at the "below adequate literacy" level. Language spoken at home was the only covariate that significantly affected test scores (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The overall health literacy level of the participants was higher than the general Hispanic adult population. Investing in the education of Hispanics may help to address disparities in health literacy.
Authors: Shannon M Christy; Lakeshia A Cousin; Steven K Sutton; Enmanuel A Chavarria; Rania Abdulla; Liliana Gutierrez; Julian Sanchez; Diana Lopez; Clement K Gwede; Cathy D Meade Journal: Nurs Res Date: 2021 Set/Oct 01 Impact factor: 2.381