Functional health literacy, chemotherapy decisions, and outcomes among a colorectal cancer cohort
Public Deposited- Creator
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Busch, E.L
- Affiliation: Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Epidemiology
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Martin, C
- Affiliation: School of Medicine, Department of Medicine
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DeWalt, D.A
- Affiliation: School of Medicine, Department of Medicine
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Sandler, R.S
- Affiliation: School of Medicine, Department of Medicine
- Abstract
- Background: Functional health literacy is essential for the self-management of chronic diseases and preventive health behaviors. Patients with cancer who have a low level of health literacy may be at greater risk for poor care and poor outcomes.Methods: We assessed health literacy using the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults in 347 participants with colorectal cancer who were nested within a prospective observational study of system, health care provider, and participant characteristics influencing cancer outcomes.Results: Having adequate health literacy increased the likelihood that participants with stage 3/4 disease received chemotherapy (odds ratio, 3.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.23–8.80) but had no effect on cancer stage at diagnosis or vital status at last observation during postenrollment follow-up. No difference was seen in health literacy status regarding participant beliefs and preferences about chemotherapy among those with stage 3/4 disease, nor in participant roles in deciding whether to receive chemotherapy.Conclusions: Patients with lower levels of health literacy were less likely to receive chemotherapy compared with participants with higher levels of health literacy. Therefore, clear communication related to key health care decisions may lead to fewer disparities due to a patient’s level of health literacy.
- Date of publication
- 2015
- Keyword
- treatment outcome
- outcome assessment
- patient information
- health status
- health belief
- Treatment Outcome
- Decision Making
- Humans
- Female
- cancer diagnosis
- cancer staging
- aged
- health behavior
- Colorectal Neoplasms
- Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
- Self Care
- cancer chemotherapy
- adult
- colorectal cancer
- patient decision making
- female
- antineoplastic agent
- Antineoplastic Agents
- multicenter study
- cancer patient
- Prospective Studies
- self care
- cohort analysis
- vital sign
- Article
- Male
- major clinical study
- Health Status
- follow up
- Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults
- decision making
- attitude to health
- population research
- Aged
- educational status
- treatment response
- prospective study
- male
- observational study
- malignant neoplastic disease
- health care personnel
- health literacy
- clinical assessment tool
- Health Literacy
- Health Behavior
- human
- DOI
- Identifier
- Resource type
- Article
- Rights statement
- In Copyright
- Journal title
- Cancer Control
- Journal volume
- 22
- Journal issue
- 1
- Page start
- 95
- Page end
- 101
- Language
- English
- Version
- Postprint
- Funder
- P30 DK034987, U01 CA93326
- National Cancer Institute, NCI: U01CA093326
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIDDK: P30DK034987
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- Parents:
This work has no parents.
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