Reading and comprehension levels in a sample of urban, low-income persons
| Autor: | Marilyn L. Weitzel, Cheryl Delgado |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2012 |
| Předmět: |
business.industry
media_common.quotation_subject Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health Health literacy Standardized test Literacy Comprehension Reading comprehension Reading (process) Wide Range Achievement Test Achievement test Psychology business Social psychology media_common Clinical psychology |
| Zdroj: | Health Education Journal. 72:345-350 |
| ISSN: | 1748-8176 0017-8969 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/0017896912444182 |
| Popis: | Objective: Because health literacy is related to healthcare outcomes, this study looked at reading and comprehension levels in a sample of urban, low-income persons. Design: This was a descriptive exploration of reading comprehension levels, controlled for medical problems that could impact on vision and therefore ability to read. Setting: Ninety persons were recruited in the waiting areas of a healthcare provider serving the homeless and urban poor. Method: Visual acuity and blood pressures were obtained and for diabetic patients measures of glycaemic control were recorded. Reading and comprehension was tested with the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT) 4 standardized assessment. Limited demographic data was obtained. Descriptive and frequency statistics were calculated as well as Pearson r coefficients. Results: Results indicated that most participants were healthy or had well controlled conditions. No health parameters were significantly related to reading/comprehension scores. Reading and comprehension scores were lower than standardized norms with mean reading just under grade 10 and comprehension at mid-ninth grade. The mean composite scores placed them in the lower 30th percentile of readers. Women scored below men in all areas. Conclusion: Participants in this study had reading and comprehension levels at beginning high school level. They may have difficulty understanding healthcare hand-outs and instructions. Healthcare information sources should be written at levels comprehensible to clients, and alternative methods of information dissemination should be considered. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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