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Accepted (AM)Open Access (License Unspecified), Open
Journal article
Health Literacy and Urbanicity Among Cancer Patients
The Journal of rural health, v 29(4), pp 392-402
01 Sep 2013
PMID: 24088213
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
PurposeLow health literacy is associated with inadequate health care utilization and poor health outcomes, particularly among elderly persons. There is a dearth of research exploring the relationship between health literacy and place of residence (urbanicity). This study examined the association between urbanicity and health literacy, as well as factors related to low health literacy, among cancer patients.
MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted with a population-based sample of 1,841 cancer patients in Wisconsin. Data on sociodemographics, urbanicity, clinical characteristics, insurance status, and health literacy were obtained from the state's cancer registry and participants' answers to a mailed questionnaire. Partially and fully adjusted multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to examine: (1) the association between urbanicity and health literacy and (2) the role of socioeconomic status as a possible mediator of this relationship.
FindingsRural cancer patients had a 33% (95% CI: 1.06-1.67) higher odds of having lower levels of health literacy than their counterparts in more urban areas of Wisconsin. The association between urbanicity and health literacy attenuated after controlling for socioeconomic status.
ConclusionsLevel of urbanicity was significantly related to health literacy. Socioeconomic status fully mediated the relationship between urbanicity and health literacy. These results call for policies and interventions to assess and address health literacy barriers among cancer patients in rural areas.
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Details
- Title
- Health Literacy and Urbanicity Among Cancer Patients
- Creators
- Julie Halverson - University of Wisconsin–MadisonAna Martinez-Donate - University of Wisconsin–MadisonAmy Trentham-Dietz - University of Wisconsin–MadisonMatthew C. Walsh - Univ Wisconsin, Dept Populat Hlth Sci, Madison, WI USAJeanne Schaaf Strickland - University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer CenterMari Palta - University of Wisconsin–MadisonPaul D. Smith - College Station Medical CenterJames Cleary - University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center
- Publication Details
- The Journal of rural health, v 29(4), pp 392-402
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 11
- Grant note
- P30CA014520 / NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI) UW School of Medicine and Public Health through the Wisconsin Partnership Program-Reducing Cancer Disparities through Comprehensive Cancer Control Agency for Healthcare Research Quality; United States Department of Health & Human Services; Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality T32HS000083 / AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY; United States Department of Health & Human Services; Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality UW Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Community Health and Prevention
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000325271500007
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84884981495
- Other Identifier
- 991020100197204721
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Health Care Sciences & Services
- Health Policy & Services
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health