Health literacy assessment and patient satisfaction in surgical practice.
BACKGROUND
Individuals with limited health literacy have barriers to patient-physician communication. Problems in communication are known to contribute to malpractice litigation. Concern exists, however, about the feasibility and patient acceptance of a health literacy assessment. This study was performed to determine the feasibility of health literacy assessment in surgical practice and its effect on patient satisfaction.


METHODS
Every patient seen in a Breast Surgery Clinic during a 2-year period was asked to undergo a health literacy assessment with the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) as part of the routine history and physical examination. During the year before routine NVS assessments and during the 2-year study period, all patients were asked to rate their "overall satisfaction with clinic visit" on a 5-point scale.


RESULTS
A total of 2,026 of 2,097 patients (96.6%) seen during the study were eligible for the health literacy assessment. Of those, no patients refused assessment, and only one patient was missed. Therefore, 2,025 of 2,026 eligible patients (99.9%) underwent the assessment. The average time for NVS assessment was 2:02 minutes. Only 19% of patients had adequate health literacy. Patient satisfaction ratings were slightly greater during the first year of the health literacy assessment (3.8 vs 3.7, P = .049) compared with the year prior to health literacy assessment and greater during the second year of health literacy assessment (4.1 vs 3.7, P < .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Routine health literacy assessment is feasible in surgical practice and results in no decrease in patient satisfaction. In fact, satisfaction was greater during the years when health literacy assessments were performed.
Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ; Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. Electronic address: Komenaka@hotmail.com.
Ian K
IK
Komenaka
Moores UCSD Cancer Center, San Diego, CA.
Jesse N
JN
Nodora
Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ.
Lorenzo
L
Machado
Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; Mel and Enid Zuckerman Arizona College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
Chiu-Hsieh
CH
Hsu
Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ.
Anne E
AE
Klemens
Moores UCSD Cancer Center, San Diego, CA.
Maria Elena
ME
Martinez
Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ.
Marcia E
ME
Bouton
Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ.
Krista L
KL
Wilhelmson
Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
Barry D
BD
Weiss
D000328:Adult; D001130:Arizona; D003144:Communication Barriers; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010808:Physical Examination