title: Determinants of Low Health Literacy Among Asian-American and Pacific Islanders in California.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health literacy is a marker for how patients obtain, comprehend, communicate, and apply complex health information. Few studies exist on determinants of low health literacy among Asian-American and Pacific Islanders. The purpose of this exploratory study was to identify key determinants of low health literacy in this population using the 2007 California Health Interview Survey, a population-based survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Low health literacy was defined as reporting either prescription bottle or written information from the doctor as being "somewhat difficult" or "very difficult" to understand, or reporting having a hard time understanding their doctor. Survey weighted univariate and multivariable regression analyses were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 4045 participants were included in the study, representing 3,156,711 Asian-American and Pacific Islander adults in California. Factors associated with low health literacy were being male, low socioeconomic status, limited English language proficiency, and being foreign born.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this study highlight the current burden of low health literacy among Asian-American and Pacific Islander population and the associated factors. Targeted public health efforts to improve health literacy are needed among Asian-American and Pacific Islanders.
authors: Department of Health Science and Human Ecology, California State University, San Bernardino, 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA, 92407, USA. mbecerra@csusb.edu.
authors: Monideepa B
authors: MB
authors: Becerra
authors: School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, 24951 North Circle Drive, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA. bbecerra@llu.edu.
authors: Benjamin J
authors: BJ
authors: Becerra
authors: Asian American Studies Program, University of Maryland, College Park, 1145 Cole Student Activities Building, College Park, MD, 20742, USA. gdaus@umd.edu.
authors: Gem P
authors: GP
authors: Daus
authors: School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, 24951 North Circle Drive, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA. lrmartin@llu.edu.
authors: Leslie R
authors: LR
authors: Martin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002140:California; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D044468:Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Asian-American; Country of birth; English language proficiency; Health literacy; Pacific Islander