Margolis DJ, Hampton M, Hoffstad O, Malay DS, Thom S, et al.
Wound repair and regeneration : official publication of the Wound Healing Society [and] the Eur.... Date of publication 2015 May 1;volume 23(3):299-301.
1. Wound Repair Regen. 2015 May-Jun;23(3):299-301. doi: 10.1111/wrr.12311. Epub 2015
Jun 19.
Health literacy and diabetic foot ulcer healing.
Margolis DJ(1), Hampton M(1), Hoffstad O(1), Malay DS(2), Thom S(3).
Author information:
(1)Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Perelman School of Medicine,
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(2)Presbyterian Medical Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(3)Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland,
Baltimore, Maryland.
The adherence by patients to diabetic foot ulcer therapy is often difficult. The
goal of this study was to begin to understand how a patient's health literacy
affects their foot ulcer management decisions. Initially using a cross-sectional
study design, we evaluated diabetics with foot ulcers within 4 weeks of being
asked to participate in a longitudinal study. We assessed health literacy using
measures of general health literacy, diabetes health literacy, diabetes
self-efficacy, and diabetes numeracy. Individuals enrolled in the study had
higher health literacy based on the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in
Adults [33.8 (SD 2.3) versus 27.3 (SD 9.6); p = 0.009] as compared to individuals
who previously declined an invitation to enroll in the study. Furthermore,
patients with lower Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults scores had
larger (p = 0.04) and older (p = 0.125) wounds (markers for poorer prognosis).
Other measures of literacy showed similar results. In conclusion, those with
diminished health literacy were less likely to enroll in an investigational study
and had wounds that were less likely to heal.
© 2015 by the Wound Healing Society.
DOI: 10.1111/wrr.12311
PMCID: PMC4519401
PMID: 25923608 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
