Health literacy is recognized as a core component of effective communication in cancer care and is associated with a number of important health outcomes. Cancer, in particular, requires that patients be able to obtain and understand complex information about their disease and treatment (e.g., risks and benefits, odds in prognosis, side effects, median survival rates, informed consent). Patients with limited health literacy may not be able to obtain or understand important information about their cancer treatments, which may impact treatment adherence and disease outcomes. The overall goal of this study is to develop a cancer health literacy test. To accomplish this goal, we will: 1) identify a comprehensive set of cancer health literacy domains by means of a variety of intensive qualitative methods;2) generate and refine draft items by employing accepted practices in scale development;and 3) test psychometric properties of the test by means of rigorous quantitative methods.

Public Health Relevance

Low levels of health literacy have detrimental health consequences for patients. This project aims to develop an instrument to measure health literacy of cancer patients.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA140151-03
Application #
8213597
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-RPHB-B (50))
Program Officer
Patrick, Heather A
Project Start
2010-04-09
Project End
2014-01-31
Budget Start
2012-02-01
Budget End
2013-01-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$550,423
Indirect Cost
$179,850
Name
Virginia Commonwealth University
Department
Other Health Professions
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
105300446
City
Richmond
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
23298
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