Knowledge and perceptions of health literacy among pharmacists in Ohio in 2013 and 2021

Background

There is limited existing literature on pharmacists' knowledge of health literacy and the interventions pharmacists use to address limited health literacy.

Objectives

The primary objectives of this study were to evaluate pharmacists' knowledge and perceptions of the impact of limited health literacy on patients and their practice, and to review the techniques used to care for patients.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional, web-based survey of registered Ohio pharmacists in 2013 and repeated the survey in 2021. The Nursing Professional Health Literacy Survey was adapted and employed to assess 1) general knowledge; 2) health literacy in the workplace; and 3) demographics. Changes in pharmacists' knowledge and perceptions of health literacy, self-reported use of communication techniques, and methods for assessing a patient’s health literacy were evaluated.

Results

Response rates were 12.4% (N = 62) in 2013 and 3.5% (N = 174) in 2021. Awareness of the term health literacy increased, rising from 82.3% to 89.7% (P = 0.127). Less than 41% of pharmacists in both cohorts had received formal health literacy training; a regression model indicated that pharmacists with more years of practice were less likely to have had such training (P < 0.05). Most pharmacists admitted they never formally assess health literacy (79.0% in 2013 and 81.6% in 2021; P = 0.875) but reported often relying on their gut feeling to gauge a patient's health literacy (37.1% in 2013 and 41.4% in 2021; P = 0.658). The percentage of pharmacists who orally reviewed written instructions with patients, used layman’s terms, and had patients demonstrate instructions significantly increased (P < 0.05) between 2013 and 2021.

Conclusion

Gaps remain in pharmacists' knowledge and practices related to health literacy. From 2013 to 2021, there were improvements in how pharmacists communicate with patients who have limited health literacy, but no significant change in the methods used to assess health literacy.