Author(s) Dumenci L, Matsuyama RK, Kuhn L, Perera RA, Siminoff LA, et al.

Journal Communication methods and measures. Date of publication 2013 Jun 18;volume 7(2):134-143.

Abstract 1. Commun Methods Meas. 2013 Jun 18;7(2):134-143. doi: 10.1080/19312458.2013.789839. On the Validity of the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) Scale as a Measure of Health Literacy. Dumenci L(1), Matsuyama RK, Kuhn L, Perera RA, Siminoff LA. Author information: (1)Virginia Commonwealth University. Originally developed to measure the literacy level of patients, the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) scale is one of the most widely used instruments to measure the construct of health literacy. This article critically examines the validity of the REALM as a measure of health literacy. Logical analysis of content coverage led to the conclusion that scores on the REALM should not be used to make inferences about a person's level of health literacy. Rather, the REALM should be used to make inferences about the ability of a person to read and pronounce health related terms. Evidence from an analysis of a sample of 1,037 respondents to the REALM with a cancer diagnosis supports the quality of the REALM as a measure of reading and pronunciation ability. Other uses of the REALM in health literacy research are discussed. DOI: 10.1080/19312458.2013.789839 PMCID: PMC3736864 PMID: 23935770

Source ID (e.g. PMID): 23935770