Prevalence of Low Cost-Related Health Literacy Among Colorectal Cancer Survivors: Findings From the Kentucky Cancer Registry.
Jean S Edward, Mary Kay Rayens, Robin C Vanderpool
PMID 35939728WHAT IT FOUND
Only 16% of colorectal cancer survivors had high numeracy, and only 18 had high confidence in using health insurance, despite adequate general and cancer health literacy.
Education was linked to numeracy, and private insurance was linked to higher confidence.
Key findings
01Of 104 survivors, 76% reported adequate general health literacy and 45% had high cancer health literacy, but only 16% had high numeracy and 18 had high confidence in using health insurance.
02Compared with those without insurance, those with private insurance had 454% higher odds of high confidence in selecting and using health insurance.
03Education was a significant predictor of numeracy, and the cancer health literacy model was not significant overall (p = 0.19).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (104 survivors), and recruitment limits may have made it harder to identify the strongest factors. Most participants were non-Hispanic White and had some health insurance, so results may not apply to uninsured survivors or other racial and ethnic groups. Cancer stage was missing for 13 participants, so the study could not fully examine stage-related cost literacy needs. Findings come from Kentucky colorectal cancer survivors, so they may not apply to survivors in more diverse settings or with other cancers.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the 454% higher odds for private insurance as proof that private insurance improves health insurance literacy. This was a cross-sectional survey of 104 mostly insured Kentucky colorectal cancer survivors, and the sample was small and limited in diversity.