Abstract
BackgroundPeople with low literacy and low health literacy have poorer health outcomes. Literacy and health literacy are distinct but overlapping constructs that impact wellbeing. Interventions that target both could improve health outcomes.Methods/designThis is a cluster randomised controlled trial with a qualitative component. Participants are 300 adults enrolled in basic language, literacy and numeracy programs at adult education colleges across New South Wales, Australia. Each adult education institute (regional administrative centre) contributes (at least) two classes matched for student demographics, which may be at the same or different campuses. Classes (clusters) are randomly allocated to receive either the health literacy intervention (an 18-week program with health knowledge and skills embedded in language, literacy, and numeracy training (LLN)), or the standard Language Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) program (usual LLN classes, specifically excluding health content).The primary outcome is functional health literacy skills – knowing how to use a thermometer, and read and interpret food and medicine labels. The secondary outcomes are self-reported confidence, more advanced health literacy skills; shared decision making skills, patient activation, health knowledge and self-reported health behaviour. Data is collected at baseline, and immediately and 6 months post intervention. A sample of participating teachers, students, and community health workers will be interviewed in-depth about their experiences with the program to better understand implementation issues and to strengthen the potential for scaling up the program.DiscussionOutcomes will provide evidence regarding real-world implementation of a health literacy training program with health worker involvement in an Australian adult education setting. The evaluation trial will provide insight into translating and scaling up health literacy education for vulnerable populations with low literacy.Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616000213448.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3034-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
People with low literacy and low health literacy have poorer health outcomes
To the extent that health literacy involves engaging with written information, it is strongly influenced by language, literacy and numeracy (LLN); some commonly used measures of health literacy (e.g. Rapid Estimate of Literacy in Medicine (REALM) [5], Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA) [6]) measure recognition and use of health vocabulary
The Australian health literacy program We aim to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention similar to Skilled for Health, adapted for an Australian context using a randomised trial design, with outcomes assessed immediately post intervention and at 6 months to determine whether any health literacy gains are retained
Summary
Literacy and health literacy are distinct but overlapping constructs that impact wellbeing. Interventions that target both could improve health outcomes. Low literacy and health literacy Health literacy is commonly defined as the capacity to acquire, understand and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health [1, 2]. Health literacy involves the capacity to use health information, not to obtain it [3]. To the extent that health literacy involves engaging with written information, it is strongly influenced by language, literacy and numeracy (LLN); some commonly used measures of health literacy (e.g. REALM [5], TOFHLA [6]) measure recognition and use of health vocabulary. Building health literacy is a priority in Australia and internationally [10, 12,13,14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
