Poster Presentation 29th Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2019

Associations between health literacy in men and sharing of DXA results with doctors (#124)

Sarah M Hosking 1 , Kara L Holloway 1 , Lana J Williams 1 , Alison Beauchamp 2 3 4 , Natalie K Hyde 1 , Julie A Pasco 1 4 5
  1. School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
  2. Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), The University of Melbourne, St Albans, VIC, Australia
  3. Department of Rural Health, Monash University, Moe, VIC, Australia
  4. Melbourne Medical School - Western Campus, The University of Melbourne, St Albans, VIC, Australia
  5. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Evidence suggests associations between social-disadvantage and poorer health self-management may be partly mediated by health literacy, the abilities and resources required to self-manage health. A social gradient has previously been demonstrated in the self-management of osteoporosis. We investigated associations between health literacy in men and sharing of their DXA results with their doctor.

Men participating in the 15yr follow-up of the population-based Geelong Osteoporosis Study were included in analyses. Participants were provided with DXA reports after previous follow-ups and encouraged to discuss them with their doctor. At the 15yr follow-up, participants were asked to self-report whether they had previously discussed their bone density results with their doctor/medical advisor. Health literacy was ascertained using the multidimensional Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) that generates scores across nine independent scales. Cluster analyses were used to group men with similar patterns of HLQ scale scores. Logistic regression was used to investigate associations between health literacy clusters and sharing of DXA reports.

Of 578 participants, 141 (24%) reported sharing their DXA results with their doctor/medical advisor. Four distinct health literacy patterns were identified by cluster analysis. Cluster One (n=61) demonstrated generally higher HLQ scale scores, displaying strengths in accessing health-services and engaging with healthcare providers. Cluster Two (n=139) demonstrated similar strengths, but reported difficulties in appraising health information. Cluster Three (n=269) reported good social support but poorer abilities in engaging with healthcare providers and accessing health-services. Cluster Four (n=109) lower HLQ scores overall, reporting difficulties accessing and engaging with healthcare providers. Holding Cluster One as referent, Clusters Three and Four were less likely to share their DXA reports; no difference was observed for Cluster Two (Figure 1).

These results suggest that men experiencing health literacy barriers to accessing and engaging with healthcare providers may be less likely to share their DXA results with their doctor.

 

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