title: Translation and validation of a Spanish-language genetic health literacy screening tool.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Literacy deficits and underutilization of medical services have been linked to health disparities among minorities, and this appears especially relevant for the Latino population. Given the increasing importance of genetics, assessment of genetic health literacy may direct future efforts to better serve this vulnerable population. The current study was designed to contribute to this area by translating and validating a Spanish-language genetic health literacy measure.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study involving an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Eligible individuals were Latinos between the ages of 18 and 75 residing in Maryland, who self-reported Spanish as their primary language, recruited through convenience sampling. The genetic health literacy measure components were adapted from existing English-language measures [Erby, Roter, Larson, & Cho's (2008) Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Genetics (REAL-G) and Hooker et al.'s (2014) Genetic Literacy and Comprehension]. An existing Spanish-language general health literacy measure was used to establish preliminary concurrent validity [Lee, Bender, Ruiz, & Cho's (2006) SAHLSA].
  
  
  RESULTS
  116 individuals completed the assessment. The Spanish-language REAL-G (REAL-G-Sp) was found to correlate well with the SAHLSA (Pearson's r = .77, p < .01). A cut-off score of 59 (out of 62) distinguished low versus high genetic health literacy with a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 71%, identifying 28% of participants as having inadequate genetic health literacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The REAL-G-Sp was found to have preliminary concurrent validity with an existing health literacy measure in the Latino population residing in Maryland. Significant proportions of this population are predicted to have limitations in genetic health literacy, even when information is provided in Spanish.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Sally Ann
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Debra L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Roter
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castillo-Salgado
authors.affiliation: Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute.
authors.forename: Gillian W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Hooker
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Lori H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Erby
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D032882:Comprehension; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005823:Genetics; D057220:Health Literacy; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult