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Development and Validation of an Environmental Health Literacy Assessment Screening Tool for Domestic Well Owners: The Water Environmental Literacy Level Scale (WELLS)

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  • Veronica L. Irvin

    (College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA)

  • Diana Rohlman

    (College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA)

  • Amelia Vaughan

    (College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA)

  • Rebecca Amantia

    (College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA)

  • Claire Berlin

    (College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA)

  • Molly L. Kile

    (College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA)

Abstract

In the U.S., privately owned wells are not subject to any regulatory testing requirements. Well owners must have sufficient environmental health literacy (EHL) to understand and interpret information that contain complex terms and labels to manage their water quality. The objective of this paper is to assess the performance and validity of a new EHL screening tool. The Water Environmental Literacy Level Scale (WELLS) is based on the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) and contains six questions on comprehension, calculations and application of information. Content validity was assessed from expert review. Criterion-related and construct validity were evaluated using an online, convenience sample of adults ( n = 869). Percent of correct responses for items ranged from 53% to 96% for NVS and from 41% to 97% for WELLS. Completion time, mean scores, distributions, and internal consistency were equivalent between both scales. Higher scores suggest higher EHL. The scales were moderately correlated (ρ = 0.47, p < 0.001). Kappa agreement was 74%. Bland-Altman plots depicted little mean difference between the scales. Education and income level were positively associated with EHL. WELLS showed criterion-validity with NVS and construct validity with education and income. In practice or research, WELLS could quickly screen individuals for low EHL.

Suggested Citation

  • Veronica L. Irvin & Diana Rohlman & Amelia Vaughan & Rebecca Amantia & Claire Berlin & Molly L. Kile, 2019. "Development and Validation of an Environmental Health Literacy Assessment Screening Tool for Domestic Well Owners: The Water Environmental Literacy Level Scale (WELLS)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:5:p:881-:d:212677
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    1. repec:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2016.303482_9 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Vanderslice, J., 2011. "Drinking water infrastructure and environmental disparities: Evidence and methodological considerations," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 101(SUPPL. 1), pages 109-114.
    3. Stillo, F. & Gibson, J.M., 2017. "Exposure to contaminated drinking water and health disparities in North Carolina," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 107(1), pages 180-185.
    4. Berinsky, Adam J. & Huber, Gregory A. & Lenz, Gabriel S., 2012. "Evaluating Online Labor Markets for Experimental Research: Amazon.com's Mechanical Turk," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 20(3), pages 351-368, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jung-Min Kwak & Ju-Hee Kim, 2022. "Psychometric Properties of the Korean Version of the Environmental Health Literacy Scale," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-13, March.
    2. Diana Rohlman & Molly L. Kile & Veronica L. Irvin, 2022. "Developing a Short Assessment of Environmental Health Literacy (SA-EHL)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-15, February.
    3. Andrew R. Binder & Katlyn May & John Murphy & Anna Gross & Elise Carlsten, 2022. "Environmental Health Literacy as Knowing, Feeling, and Believing: Analyzing Linkages between Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status and Willingness to Engage in Protective Behaviors against Health ," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-17, February.
    4. Kathleen M. Gray & Victoria Triana & Marti Lindsey & Benjamin Richmond & Anna Goodman Hoover & Chris Wiesen, 2021. "Knowledge and Beliefs Associated with Environmental Health Literacy: A Case Study Focused on Toxic Metals Contamination of Well Water," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-14, September.

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