Low levels of patient health literacy may contribute to patients' difficulties following preventive and treatment regimens, leading to poor adherence and ultimately to poor health outcomes. Patient non-adherence (also called noncompliance) is a widespread problem in medical care, limiting opportunities to prevent the onset and/or progression of serious disease. The goal of this study is to employ the techniques of meta-analysis to systematically search, review, summarize, and integrate the statistical findings of all published research from 1948 through 2007 on the relationship between patient adherence and health literacy. This work will build on the Principal Investigator's existing databases of the adherence and health communication literatures from 1948-98. Calculation of multiple, conceptually driven meta-analyses will involve all health literacy conceptual definitions and measurement strategies in both observational and intervention studies. This work will examine the relationships between health literacy and adherence to recommendations from all health professionals (e.g., physicians, nurses) for both preventive and treatment regimens, including medication, diet, exercise, and all specific prevention and disease management efforts for a wide variety of acute and chronic conditions. These meta-analyses will examine the effects of moderators of the health literacy- adherence relationship, including patient characteristics (gender, ethnicity, age, education, economic status, and underserved status), disease conditions and treatment regimens, contexts of care, and research methodologies. This work will also examine trends over time in the development and evolution of substantive and methodological issues in health literacy and patient adherence. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
5R03AG027552-02
Application #
7282387
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-RPHB-B (50))
Program Officer
King, Jonathan W
Project Start
2006-09-01
Project End
2008-07-31
Budget Start
2007-08-01
Budget End
2008-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$65,543
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Riverside
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
627797426
City
Riverside
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92521
Miller, Tricia A (2016) Health literacy and adherence to medical treatment in chronic and acute illness: A meta-analysis. Patient Educ Couns 99:1079-1086
Zolnierek, Kelly B Haskard; Dimatteo, M Robin (2009) Physician communication and patient adherence to treatment: a meta-analysis. Med Care 47:826-34
Williams, Summer L; Haskard, Kelly B; DiMatteo, M Robin (2007) The therapeutic effects of the physician-older patient relationship: effective communication with vulnerable older patients. Clin Interv Aging 2:453-67
DiMatteo, M Robin; Haskard, Kelly B; Williams, Summer L (2007) Health beliefs, disease severity, and patient adherence: a meta-analysis. Med Care 45:521-8