Abstract A009: Validation of an instrument to measure health professionals' health literacy competence

Abstract

Introduction: Health literacy (HL) has been identified as a significant predictor of outcomes across the health continuum, including cancer care. As a result it is recommended that all health professionals receive health literacy training. Some institutions have begun integrating health literacy into training programs, but there is a dearth of reliable assessment tools to measure learners9 knowledge. Only one validated instrument (Health Literacy Knowledge and Experience Scale (HL-KES)) exists that specifically assess health professionals9 health literacy competence, but it was validated for use among nurses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the HL-KES as a suitable measure for assessing the HL knowledge and experience of health promotion professionals. Methods: Advanced (junior and senior) students (n=250) enrolled in bachelor-level health promotion programs in three large public universities in Texas completed the 29-item HL-KES. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to test the factor structure. Reliability estimates of the overall scale and subscales were assessed using the item covariance method with coefficient alpha (α). Results: The analyses identified three factors that accounted for 62% of the total variance. Twelve items loaded on factor 1 (Knowledge of HL challenges), four items loaded on factor 2 (knowledge of HL assessment strategies), and three items loaded on factor 3 (knowledge of HL principles for written healthcare materials). Results from the test of internal consistency indicated the HL-KES had acceptable reliability for the overall knowledge scale (Cronbach9s alpha = 0.77). The sub-scales had Cronbach9s alphas ranging from .31 to .52. Conclusion: The results suggest the HLKES is a reliable instrument for assessing health promotion professionals9 health literacy knowledge. As a whole, the Cronbach9s alpha for the instrument falls within the acceptable range (.65 - .90). The subscales, however, have low reliability coefficients. Cronbach9s alpha is a function of test length and inter-item correlation and a couple of subscales had just a few items. Reduction in the number of items no doubt attenuated the internal consistency. Citation Format: Lenna Dawkins-Moultin, Lisako McKyer. Validation of an instrument to measure health professionals9 health literacy competence [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr A009.