The relationship between functional health literacy of African American veterans and nonveterans and their ability to read and comprehend medical information for a chronic illness

<p>The purpose of this study was to determine if there were differences between male African Americans who have served in the military and those who are not veterans in their ability to read and comprehend medical information for a chronic illness prevalent among African Americans, such as type 2 diabetes. The participants included 92 African American men of whom 44 were veterans and 48 were nonveterans. The participants were drawn from fraternal organizations and churches in a large metropolitan area located in the Midwestern part of the United States. The Short Test of Health Literacy Assessment (STOFHLA), a knowledge questionnaire, and a short demographic survey were used as the data collection tools. Four research questions were developed for the study. Each of these questions were addressed using inferential statistical analysis. The findings indicated that veterans and nonveterans did not differ in their health literacy levels or in their ability to read and comprehend medical information contained in a pamphlet about diabetes prepare by the Michigan Department of Public Health. One variable, scores on the STOFHLA, was a statistically significant predictor of the ability to read and comprehend medical information on the pamphlet. Health literacy is an important indicator of the ability to read and comprehend medical information in written form that is given to patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes. Further study is needed to continue research on how to provide this information to individuals, especially those with limited health literacy.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Curriculum and Instruction

Year dc:date.available

2011

Author dc:creator

• Points, David Stephen

Contributors dc:contributor

• George P. Parris

• African American Men
• Chronic illness
• Health Beliefs
• Health knowledge
• Literacy
• Veterans
• African American Studies
• Education
• Other Education

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/292

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.wayne.edu:oa_dissertations-1291