Rehabilitation consumers' use and understanding of quality information: a health literacy perspective.
OBJECTIVE
To explore consumers' use and understanding of quality information about postacute rehabilitation facilities.


METHODS
Thematic, semistructured interviews.


METHODS
Two skilled nursing facilities and 2 inpatient rehabilitation facilities in a large Midwestern city.


METHODS
Rehabilitation inpatients (n=17) with stroke, hip fractures, and joint replacements and care partners (n=12) of rehabilitation inpatients.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
Health literacy imposed barriers to participants' understanding of quality information. Using the Institute of Medicine's Health Literacy Framework, we identified specific barriers that limited participants' abilities to (1) obtain quality information, (2) process and understand quality information, and (3) make appropriate decisions about the quality of a rehabilitation facility. Participants tended to rely on informal and nonquality information when choosing a rehabilitation facility.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the barriers imposed by low health literacy, rehabilitation providers have a responsibility to present quality information in a way that consumers, especially those with low health literacy, can use and understand.
Magasi
Susan
S
Center on Outcomes, Research and Education, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL 60201, USA. smagasi@northshore.org
Durkin
Elizabeth
E
Wolf
Michael S
MS
Deutsch
Anne
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000379:methods*; D003657:Decision Making; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012866:Skilled Nursing Facilities; D013997:Time Factors; D035502:Trust