Assessing health literacy and oral health: preliminary results of a multi-site investigation

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Mark D. Macek, University of Maryland; Kathryn A. Atchison, University of California at Los Angeles School of Dentistry; Maria Rosa Watson, Primary Care Coalition of Montgomery County; Jennifer Holtzman, University of California at Los Angeles School of Dentistry; William Wells, University of Baltimore; Bonnie Braun, University of Maryland; Linda Aldoory, University of Maryland; Diana Messadi, University of California at Los Angeles School of Dentistry; Melanie Gironda, University of Southern California; Don Haynes, University of Baltimore; Ruth Parker, Emory University; Haiyan Chen, University of Maryland; Susan Coller, University of Maryland; Jessica Richards, University of California at Los Angeles School of Dentistry
• Language: English
• Date: 2016-01-01
• Publisher: Wiley: 12 months
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2016 American Association of Public Health Dentistry
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jphd.12156
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Public Health Dentistry
• ISSN: 0022-4006
• Volume: 76
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 303
• End Page: 313
• Grant/Funding Information: This project was funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (R01 DE020858).
• Keywords: VALIDATION; oral health; Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine; health knowledge; communication; ENCOUNTERS; Science & Technology; practice; adults; health literacy; dental care; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; attitudes; CARE; SELF-EFFICACY; OUTCOMES
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Dentistry; Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

Objectives: To introduce a multi-site assessment of oral health literacy and to describe preliminary analyses of the relationships between health literacy and selected oral health outcomes within the context of a comprehensive conceptual model. Methods: Data for this analysis came from the Multi-Site Oral Health Literacy Research Study (MOHLRS), a federally funded investigation of health literacy and oral health. MOHLRS consisted of a broad survey, including several health literacy assessments, and measures of attitudes, knowledge, and other factors. The survey was administered to 922 initial care-seeking adult patients presenting to university-based dental clinics in California and Maryland. For this descriptive analysis, confidence filling out forms, word recognition, and reading comprehension comprised the health literacy assessments. Dental visits, oral health functioning, and dental self-efficacy were the outcomes. Results: Overall, up to 21% of participants reported having difficulties with practical health literacy tasks. After controlling for sociodemographic confounders, no health literacy assessment was associated with dental visits or dental caries self-efficacy. However, confidence filling out forms and word recognition were each associated with oral health functioning and periodontal disease self-efficacy. Conclusions: Our analysis showed that dental school patients exhibit a range of health literacy abilities. It also revealed that the relationship between health literacy and oral health is not straightforward, depending on patient characteristics and the unique circumstances of the encounter. We anticipate future analyses of MOHLRS data will answer questions about the role that health literacy and various mediating factors play in explaining oral health disparities.