Health Literacy in Geriatric Patients
ConditionHealth Literacy
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot listed
Trial typeObservational
Biological sexAll
Age65-110
SponsorHamilton Health Sciences Corporation
About this trial
Health Literacy is one's ability to understand health information well enough to make informed decisions about their health. Limited health literacy makes it hard for people to understand complex health issues and follow health care recommendations. Limited health literacy is associated with adverse health outcomes such as higher mortality, increased risk of emergency department visits and hospital admissions leading to higher medical costs. Although there are tools to assess health literacy, they are not widely used, so many healthcare providers do not measure their patients' health literacy levels adequately. Health care workers tend to overestimate their patients' health literacy. This is especially important for older adults who often have memory problems and multiple illnesses. This study will evaluate how doctors and team members in a geriatric clinic estimate their patient's health literacy and determine if this matches with the patients' health literacy as measured by a simple validated questionnaire. The investigators will also look at how a patient's relative or caregiver estimates their health literacy using a similar short questionnaire. The research team plans to follow up with a telephone call in 6 months, to see which health concerns if any have occurred since the clinic visit.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Patients (both new and follow up) attending St. Peter's Hospital Geriatric Clinic
Willingness to participate in the study (caregiver can rate HL for patient if patient unable to)
Consenting to study (by patient or caregiver)
Disqualifiers
Behavior (e.g. behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia) which may be aggravated by additional questions
Acute illness preventing participation
Terminal illness that would prevent 6-month telephone follow up
Previous participation in this study
Trial population
Patients who have been referred by their primary care or other physicians, to the Geriatric Clinic at the St. Peter's Hospital site of Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation. All patients, including new referrals and follow up patients will be invited to participate in the study.
Trial design
Design model
Other
Time perspective
Prospective
Treatments tested in this trial
Not listed
Trial groups
No trial groups listed
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Patient self-identified HL
The patient's self-identified health literacy based on the BRIEF, a 4-item measure of health literacy that has been validated for older adults.
Time frame
At enrollment2
Caregiver's perception of patient's HL
The caregiver's perception of the patient's health literacy based on the BRIEF-C, a tool based on the BRIEF, constructed to reflect the caregiver's perception of the patient's HL.
Time frame
At enrollment3
Patient self-identified quality of life
The patient's self-identified quality of life measured by the EQ-VAS, a visual analogue scale measuring quality of life on a scale of 0 to 100
Time frame
At enrollment4
Geriatric Team's assessment of patient's HL
Geriatric Team will report HL as Adequate/marginal/inadequate. Level of adequacy (1,2,3) is optional
Time frame
At enrollmentSecondary outcomes
1
Medication adherence
Low medication adherence is predictive of poor health outcomes for older adults and is associated with education level, health literacy, patient satisfaction, and sufficient communication. However, associations have not been delineated in an outpatient setting or using a validated HL scale. Adherence will be measured by dichotomous outcome (80% adherent vs non-adherent) according to the consultation note.
Time frame
At enrollment2
Number of participants with existing community home care planning
Home and community care includes access to long-term or short-term nursing, home support, and other services. As well, the use of these services has a significant effect on healthy aging in place. However, it is currently unknown the extent to which HL may influence an individual's ability to obtain home care.
Time frame
At enrollment3
Number of participants with long-term care planning
Long term care planning includes discussion about or application to long term care facility admission.
Time frame
At enrollment4
Number of patients with code status discussion
Statement about advance directives or POST in medical record.
Time frame
At enrollmentSponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov