Journal of general internal medicine
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Comparative Study
Importance of adult literacy in understanding health disparities.
In several recent studies, the importance of education and race in explaining health-related disparities has diminished when literacy was considered. This relationship has not been tested in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. ⋯ The inclusion of adult literacy reduces the explanatory power of crucial variables in health disparities research. Literacy inequity may be an important factor in health disparities, and a powerful avenue for alleviation efforts, which has been mistakenly attributed to other factors.
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Comparative Study
Low literacy impairs comprehension of prescription drug warning labels.
Adverse events resulting from medication error are a serious concern. Patients' literacy and their ability to understand medication information are increasingly seen as a safety issue. ⋯ Patients with low literacy had difficulty understanding prescription medication warning labels. Patients of all literacy levels had better understanding of warning labels that contained single-step versus multiple-step instructions. Warning labels should be developed with consumer participation, especially with lower literate populations, to ensure comprehension of short, concise messages created with familiar words and recognizable icons.
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The prevalence of torture among foreign-born patients presenting to urban medical clinics is not well documented. ⋯ Among foreign-born patients presenting to an urban primary care center, approximately 1 in 9 met the definition established by the UN Convention Against Torture. As survivors of torture may have significant psychological and physical sequelae, these data underscore the necessity for primary care physicians to screen for a torture history among foreign-born patients.
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English proficiency may be important in explaining disparities in health and health care access among older adults. ⋯ Provision of language assistance services to patients and training of providers in cultural competence are 2 means by which health care systems could reduce linguistic barriers, improve access to care, and ultimately improve health status for these vulnerable populations.