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

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.

Oral health conceptual knowledge and its relationships with oral health outcomes: Findings from a Multi‐site Health Literacy Study

“…The MOHLRS sample included 922 English‐speaking adults, 456 recruited in Maryland and 466 in Southern California. Most (44%) of the participants were 45‐64 years of age and approximately half were male.…”

The value of a combined word recognition and knowledge measure to understand characteristics of our patients’ oral health literacy

“…The cross‐sectional MOHLRS study was conducted with urban, university‐based dental clinic patients in California and Maryland. The methods have been published elsewhere and are described briefly here . The target population for the MOHLRS included English‐speaking, initial care‐seeking, adult patients presenting to clinics affiliated with The University of Maryland and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) between 2011 and 2014.…”

“…The methods have been published elsewhere and are described briefly here. 17 The target population for the MOHLRS included Englishspeaking, initial care-seeking, adult patients presenting to clinics affiliated with The University of Maryland and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) between 2011 and 2014. Potential participants were eligible if they were 18 years of age or older, had no cognitive, vision or hearing difficulties that interfered with their ability to complete the survey, had fewer than five visits to the dental school or were former patients of the school who had had no dental visit at the school for more than five years.…”

Did you know Medicare does not usually include a dental benefit? Findings from a multisite investigation of oral health literacy

“…A 40‐minute survey included several sections, including oral health knowledge and other relevant areas. A detailed description of the MOHLRS is available elsewhere .…”