Distributions of Variables Used to Predict Limited Health Literacy and Results of Bivariate Analyses (N = 225)
| Variable | Response Options | Codea | No. (%)bof Patients | Crude ORc | P Valuec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OR=odds ratio; ref=reference group; GED=general equivalency diploma. | |||||
| a Represents point values used in the logistic model. | |||||
| b Unless otherwise noted. | |||||
| c Crude odds ratios and P values are of association with limited health literacy. Exact tests were used for categorical variables; rank-sum test was used for ordinal variables. | |||||
| d Odds ratios for some variable values are not reported because the contingency table contained a zero cell. | |||||
| e Median (interquartile range). | |||||
| f Mean (SD). | |||||
| g Age data were normally distributed. P value was determined with a t test. | |||||
| Highest education level attained | Master’s degree or greater | −4 | 20 (8.9) | –d | <.001 |
| Bachelor’s degree (≥4 years of college) | −3 | 25 (11.1) | 0.18 | ||
| Associate’s degree (2 years of college) | −2 | 22 (9.8) | 0.21 | ||
| Some college | −1 | 57 (25.3) | 0.25 | ||
| 12th grade (GED or equivalent) | 0 | 65 (28.9) | (ref) | ||
| 11th grade or less | 1 | 32 (14.2) | 3.44 | ||
| 6th grade or less | 2 | 4 (1.8) | 13.25 | ||
| Self-rated reading ability | Excellent or very good | 0 | 112 (49.8) | (ref) | <.001 |
| Good | 1 | 71 (31.6) | 6.66 | ||
| Okay | 2 | 35 (15.6) | 21.47 | ||
| Poor | 3 | 7 (3.1) | –d | ||
| Terrible or very poor | 4 | 0 (0) | – | ||
| Reading enjoyment | 1–10 | Natural | 8 (6–10)e | – | .01 |
| Single-Item Literacy Screener37 | Never | 0 | 140 (62.2) | (ref) | <.001 |
| Rarely | 1 | 47 (20.9) | 3.91 | ||
| Sometimes | 2 | 22 (9.8) | 4.85 | ||
| Often | 3 | 10 (4.4) | 24.75 | ||
| Always | 4 | 6 (2.7) | –d | ||
| Sex | Male | 1 | 71 (31.6) | 2.20 | .04 |
| Race | White | – | 99 (44.0) | (ref) | – |
| Black | – | 101 (44.9) | 4.83 | <.001 | |
| Other | – | 25 (11.1) | 2.95 | .11 | |
| Age | Years | Natural | 53.76 (12.8)f | – | .01g |