Group items tagged

Many older adults in Medicare managed care programs have low health literacy, and this may affect use of preventive services. Objectives. To determine whether older adults with inadequate health literacy were less likely to report receiving influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations, mammograms, and Papanicolaou smears than individuals with adequate health literacy after adjusting for other covariates. Research Design. Cross-sectional survey; home interviews with community dwelling enrollees. Subjects. Medicare managed care enrollees 65 to 79 years old in four US cities (n = 2722). Measures. Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults and self-reported preventive service use. Results. In bivariate analyses, self-reported lack of preventive services was higher among individuals with inadequate health literacy than those with adequate health literacy: never had an influenza vaccination: 29% versus 19% (P = 0.000); never had a pneumococcal vaccination: 65% versus 54% (P = 0.000); no mammogram in the last 2 years: 24% versus 17% (P = 0.017); never had a Papanicolaou smear: 10% versus 5% (P = 0.002). After adjusting for demographics, years of school completed, income, number of physician visits, and health status, people with inadequate health literacy were more likely to report they had never received the influenza (OR, 1.4% 95% CI, 1.1-1.9) or pneumococcal vaccination (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.7), and women were less likely to have received a mammogram (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.0-2.2) or Papanicolaou smear (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0-3.1). Conclusions. Among Medicare managed care enrollees, inadequate health literacy is independently associated with lower use of preventive health services. (Abstract taken from JSTOR.)

We sought to determine whether literacy mediates the relationship between education and glycemic control among diabetes patients. Methods: We measured educational attainment, literacy using the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (s-TOFHLA), and glycemic control (HbA1c) in 395 diabetes patients at a U.S. public hospital. We performed path analysis to compare two competing models to explain glycemic control. The direct effects model estimated how education was related to HbA1c; the mediational model estimated the strength of the direct relationship when the additional pathway from education to literacy to HbA1c was added. Results: Both the model with a direct effect of education on HbA1c and the model with literacy as a mediator were supported by good fit to observed data. The mediational model, however, was a significant improvement, with the additional path from literacy to HbA1c reducing the discrepancy from observed data (p<0.01). After including this path, the direct relationship between education and HbA1c fell to a non-significant threshold. Conclusions: In a low-income population with diabetes, literacy mediated the relationship between education and glycemic control. This finding has important implications for both education and health policy. (Abstract taken from JSTOR.)

Dugas shares that in 2004 Citigroup donated $200 million, in a 10-year program to help encourage financial literacy. With financial literacy at an all time low, and financial products continuing to be increasingly difficult to understand, their efforts were very timely. Citibank shares in the belief that it is part of the financial industries responsibility to help educate people toward financial literacy. Financial illiteracy is growing and the need to slow it down is urgent. The article also talks about Citigroup's effort to partner with organizations such as Operation Hope, giving back to the community. The commitment is a long-term investment in the community, Citigroup further encouraged their employee's to volunteer in their communities, sharing their expertise in finance which will help encourage financial literacy.

This article is an overview of a financial literacy survey done by the company Jump$tart. The survey involved questioning high school and college students across the country. The results show that although college students literacy is a little higher, in general this target age group has low financial literacy.

This article first discusses what health literacy is, and has some background information. It then discusses how many patients have very low literacy levels. It talks about how health literacy can change how a patient recovers or understands there treatments

Using a nationally representative sample of 13,609 kindergarten children in 2,690 classrooms and 788 schools from the base year of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999, along with three-level hierarchical linear models, this study investigates the impact of early literacy instruction on kindergarten children's learning, as measured by direct cognitive test scores, indirect teacher ratings of children's achievement in language and literacy, and indirect teacher ratings of children's approaches to learning. Two composite measures of phonics and integrated language arts are constructed from teachers' reports of their instructional practices. Findings show that classroom mean outcomes were significantly higher when classroom teachers reported using both integrated language arts and phonics more often. However, children with low initial performance benefited less from integrated language arts instruction, as measured by direct measures of achievement; such differential effects of instruction were not observed for teacher ratings of children's achievement and learning style. Policy implications of the findings are discussed. (Abstract taken from JSTOR.)

This article discusses a study that was done to show the correlation between health literacy and social communication. It is based off of older adults who usually have more health problems. It was showed in this study that also the older adults tend to have more chronic illnesses, they have very low health literacy

discuss the serious effects of low financial literacy for today's workers and retirees. Financial statistics are given that show deficient financial literacy levels in many demographics. The article is a great source of statistical information that will support claims in other articles as well.

This article is about how when parents increase their involvment in their child's school, this creates a better relationship between the student and teacher. With this new relationship also bring better literacy and math skills for the student. The students change their attitude about school and actually want to go. This is why it important for low income families to get involved in the schools.

Financially literate people are imperative to an economy because they make good financial decisions that help stimulate the economy. The author emphasizes the need for individuals (especially low income families to write out a written budget monthly. Consumers should establish emergency funds, practice good saving habits and have knowledge of investment funds. Through the surveys conducted in the article there is a correlation between knowledge of financial practices with and financial achievement. The author emphasizes the need to expand on ones' personal financial knowledge in a way befitting to the individual.

Financially literate people are imperative to an economy because they make good financial decisions that help stimulate the economy. The author emphasizes the need for individuals (especially low income families to write out a written budget monthly. Consumers should establish emergency funds, practice good saving habits and have knowledge of investment funds. Through the surveys conducted in the article there is a correlation between knowledge of financial practices with and financial achievement. The author emphasizes the need to expand on ones' personal financial knowledge in a way befitting to the individual.

This article talks about how nutrition and the food items that are contained in the product are listed on the side of the product. This article is very interesting because it talks about how many labels over exaggerate exactly how health the product is. "fat free", or "low carb" foods are actually not healthy to eat. It discusses how looks can be deceiving when eating/buying certain products.

A study show that children who go to childcare center have better test score and do better in school. These kids are prepared to go the kindergarten and they are the ones that continuously have success in school. This also talks about how when mothers start working and get off welfare, their child has better mental healt and begins to do better in school.