title: Health literacy and medication administration performance by caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure health literacy (HL) of caregivers of adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDDs); to determine the association between HL and a medication administration task (MAT) assessment; and to identify caregiver characteristics associated with higher HL and MAT scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Southeastern Michigan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Caregivers, aged 18 years or older, who provided supportive care of adults with IDDs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey and demonstration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (STOFHLA); a MAT assessment consisting of interpretation of five sets of medication instructions followed by demonstration of understanding using a pill box; and a survey of caregivers' demographics, medication-related experiences, education, characteristics of persons for whom they provide care, and care-related activities performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 47 caregivers provided data. Caregivers had a mean age of 45.7 ± 14.6 years; 41 (87.2%) were women and 38 (80.9%) had education beyond high school. Caregivers were involved in obtaining medication from pharmacies, reminded the person with IDD to take medications and/or administered them to the person, documented medication and health information, and accompanied persons with IDD to physician offices. Most did not conduct monitoring procedures. The STOFHLA mean score was 34.5 ± 2.5 (median, 35; range, 22-36), while the MAT mean score was 12.0 ± 2.2 (median, 12; range, 6-15). Compared with family caregivers, direct support staff more frequently had undergone some medication training and had other people with whom they could discuss medication questions, but they had worked with the person with IDD a significantly shorter amount of time. No significant differences in STOFHLA and MAT scores between the family caregivers and direct support staff were observed. Caregiver education was significantly correlated with the STOFHLA score. MAT scores were not significantly correlated with caregiver characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caregivers are involved in the medication use process for people who have IDD. Ensuring caregiver understanding of medication regimens and/or improving medication-related HL may be an important step to ensure safe and effective use of medications by people with IDD.
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: LeRoy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D032882:Comprehension; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis