"Sometimes It's Hard to Figure": The Functional Health Literacy of Appalachians in a Metropolitan Area

Given the importance of health literacy to full participation in and benefit from this nation's health care system, this study examines the functional health literacy and coping strategies of Appalachian adults within the greater Cincinnati metropolitan area. A total of seventy self-identified...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Appalachian studies 2006-04, Vol.12 (1), p.7-25
Main Authors: Ludke, Robert L., Obermiller, Phillip J., Jacobson, C. Jeff, Shaw, Thomas, Wells, Victoria E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult education
Adult literacy
Appalachian studies
Demography
Health literacy
Health status
Literacy
Metropolitan areas
Primary health care
Statistical significance
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Summary:Given the importance of health literacy to full participation in and benefit from this nation's health care system, this study examines the functional health literacy and coping strategies of Appalachian adults within the greater Cincinnati metropolitan area. A total of seventy self-identified Appalachian adults who presented at one of thirteen primary care safety-net clinics were interviewed and compared with 602 non-Appalachian adults. The interview consisted of administering the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy, collecting self-reported health status, assessing level of understanding and remembering what the doctor said, and identifying coping strategies for effectively interacting with clinicians. Appalachian adults appear to be at greater risk for low functional health literacy, but do not report different coping behavior, than non-Appalachian adults. Poor health literacy appears to have a greater effect among Appalachians in terms of their level of difficulties interacting with physicians, coping behaviors, and self-reported health. The study findings imply a need for a better understanding of the potential risks of poor functional health literacy among the Appalachian population, the nature of the underlying causes, and appropriate strategies for assisting persons with poor health literacy to effectively use this nation's health care system.
ISSN:1082-7161