Health Literacy Assessment Quizzes

Health Literacy

• Parker test (1995) measures functional health literacy in adults, consisting of 50 reading comprehension, 17 numerical ability, and 22-minute tests
• Updated version decreased validity in numerical literacy, with 36 items and 7-minute test
• REALM (Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine) assesses individuals' ability to read and correctly pronounce medical terms
• Newest Vital Sign (NVS) evaluates health literacy with 6 questions based on a fake nutrition label, taking 2-3 minutes, and considers non-English speakers

Improving Health Literacy

• Community-based initiatives can help improve health literacy through collaborative learning, sharing health information with family, community, and healthcare professionals
• Interactive learning opportunities, tailored to the audience, and based on behavioral change frameworks can promote health literacy
• Centering on improving individual access and ability to understand, appraise, and apply health information leads to better healthcare delivery, disease prevention, and health promotion

Physical Literacy

• Physical literacy is linked to health literacy, with associations with BMI, healthy weight, grip strength, and cardiorespiratory function
• Key aspects of physical literacy include motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge, and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activity
• Promoting physical literacy in older adults requires a safe environment, education, and promotion of physical activity, as well as intrapersonal motivation and social interaction/support

Communication Changes with Age

• Normal age-related changes in communication include decreased comprehension, word finding, and naming, but not vocabulary, grammatical judgment, or ability to repeat what was heard
• Communication impacts employment, social participation, personal relationships, and ability to complete daily tasks, leading to poor health literacy and outcomes

Strategies for Effective Communication

• Know the audience, allow extra time, avoid distractions, and maintain eye contact
• Speak slowly, clearly, and loudly, using short simple words and sentences, and summarize important points
• Give the patient opportunity to ask questions and express themselves, and include families in the communication process

Digital Literacy and Communication

• Fewer adults can access and use technology for health interactions due to limited finances, access, and hardware
• E-health literacy is the ability to search for and understand relevant health care information, requiring literacy in all areas
• Higher e-health literacy is associated with lower prevalence of chronic disease and disability, and fewer healthcare visits

Behavioral Change

• Understand the 5 stages of behavioral change: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance
• Identify modifiable determinants of healthy aging, and adapt behavioral interventions to the individual's stage
• Healthy aging includes functional ability, wellbeing, and the ability to do what is valued

Physiology of Aging and Exercise

• Changes in integumentary, immune, endocrine, digestive, and urinary systems occur with aging
• Exercise and diet are the only true anti-aging agents, and can impact multiple systems

Aging Changes in Multiple Systems

• Integumentary system: thinner epithelium and fatty layers, decreased sweat glands, skin vascularity, and collagen and elastic fibers
• Immune system: decreased immune response, increased inflammation, and oxidative damage
• Neuroendocrine system: decreased hormone production and release, increased cortisol levels, and decreased bone mineral density
• Menopause: altered timing of hormone release, decreased estrogen, and systemic changes in skin, cardiovascular, and urinary systems
• Urinary system: decreased kidney and bladder size, decreased renal blood flow, and increased urinary tract infections
• Gastrointestinal system: decreased smooth muscle tone, enteric system signaling, and liver function, leading to slower peristalsis and increased inflammation

This quiz assesses health literacy in adults through reading comprehension, numerical ability, and pronunciation of medical terms. It includes tests such as Parker, REALM, and Newest Vital Sign (NVS).