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Health Literacy, Computer Skills and Quality of Patient-Physician Communication in Chinese Patients with Cataract

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Listed:
  • Xianchai Lin
  • Mei Wang
  • Yajing Zuo
  • Mingge Li
  • Xiaofeng Lin
  • Siping Zhu
  • Yongxin Zheng
  • Minbin Yu
  • Ecosse L Lamoureux

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess levels of health literacy and computer skills in Chinese patients with cataract, and their impact on the doctor-patient relationship. Methods: We undertook a cross-sectional study of cataract patients scheduled for cataract extraction procedures in Guangdong Province, China. Generic health literacy was assessed using 3 established screening questions. Adequate computer skills was determined if patients had used a computer and routinely used search engines on the Internet. Socio-demographic measures (e.g., age, sex, education) were obtained from a standardized interview. Participants who indicated that they could not understand what their doctors mean were considered to have had poor patient-physician communications. Results: Of the 211 participants, 92 (43.6%) had inadequate health literacy and 204 (96.7%) inadequate computer skills. In multivariate analysis, females were more likely to have inadequate health literacy (odds ratio = 2.5, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.3 to 4.7). People with inadequately health literacy were more likely to have a poor patient-physician communication (odds ratio = 3.5, 95% CIs: 1.3 to 9.0). Similar associations were found for inadequate computer skills. Conclusion: Chinese elderly patients with cataract have inadequate health literacy and very limited computer skills, which place them at high risk of misunderstanding and mismanaging their ocular conditions. Patient education information other than online materials may improve the eye care and outcomes of these patients.

Suggested Citation

  • Xianchai Lin & Mei Wang & Yajing Zuo & Mingge Li & Xiaofeng Lin & Siping Zhu & Yongxin Zheng & Minbin Yu & Ecosse L Lamoureux, 2014. "Health Literacy, Computer Skills and Quality of Patient-Physician Communication in Chinese Patients with Cataract," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(9), pages 1-5, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0107615
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107615
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Klaus Eichler & Simon Wieser & Urs Brügger, 2009. "The costs of limited health literacy: a systematic review," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 54(5), pages 313-324, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ping Zhang & Fang Wang & Yao Cheng & Liu yi Zhang & Bei zhu Ye & Hong wei Jiang & Yi Sun & Xi Zhu & Yuan Liang, 2017. "Impact of organizational and individual factors on patient-provider relationships: A national survey of doctors, nurses and patients in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Mei Wang & Yajing Zuo & Xianhua Lin & Yunlan Ling & Xiaofeng Lin & Mingge Li & Ecosse Lamoureux & Yingfeng Zheng, 2015. "Willingness to Pay for Cataract Surgery Provided by a Senior Surgeon in Urban Southern China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(11), pages 1-9, November.

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