TY - JOUR
T1 - Health literacy among hispanics
T2 - A systematic research review (1992-2008)
AU - Koskan, Alexis
AU - Friedman, Daniela B.
AU - Hilfinger Messias, Deanne K.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - This study is a comprehensive systematic review of research on health literacy (HL) among U.S. Hispanics. Twenty-eight studies published between 1992 and 2008 were examined for focus, HL definitions, and HL measurement tools. Findings revealed that Spanish-speaking, less educated, and foreign-born Hispanics had the lower levels of HL. The health issues that more often affect Hispanics are diabetes, heart disease, and obesity-related health conditions; however, the most prominent health topics addressed in the articles were HIV, cancer, and diabetes. Researchers did not always define HL and literacy. A variety of HL measures were employed; Spanish-language instruments were rarely used. Implications include the need for conceptual consistency in defining HL, the use of linguistically and culturally sensitive HL assessment tools, and further research on prevalent Hispanic health concerns and differences among diverse Hispanic subpopulations.
AB - This study is a comprehensive systematic review of research on health literacy (HL) among U.S. Hispanics. Twenty-eight studies published between 1992 and 2008 were examined for focus, HL definitions, and HL measurement tools. Findings revealed that Spanish-speaking, less educated, and foreign-born Hispanics had the lower levels of HL. The health issues that more often affect Hispanics are diabetes, heart disease, and obesity-related health conditions; however, the most prominent health topics addressed in the articles were HIV, cancer, and diabetes. Researchers did not always define HL and literacy. A variety of HL measures were employed; Spanish-language instruments were rarely used. Implications include the need for conceptual consistency in defining HL, the use of linguistically and culturally sensitive HL assessment tools, and further research on prevalent Hispanic health concerns and differences among diverse Hispanic subpopulations.
KW - Health literacy
KW - Hispanics
KW - Literacy
KW - Systematic review
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77953429337&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77953429337&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1891/1540-4153.8.2.65
DO - 10.1891/1540-4153.8.2.65
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:77953429337
SN - 1540-4153
VL - 8
SP - 65
EP - 76
JO - Hispanic Health Care International
JF - Hispanic Health Care International
IS - 2
ER -