Neurocognitive impairment is associated with lower health literacy among persons living with HIV infection.

TitleNeurocognitive impairment is associated with lower health literacy among persons living with HIV infection.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsMorgan, EE, Iudicello, JE, Cattie, JE, Blackstone, K, Grant, I, Woods, SPaul
Corporate AuthorsHIV Neurobehavioral Research Program (HNRP) Group
JournalAIDS Behav
Volume19
Issue1
Pagination166-77
Date Published2015 Jan
ISSN1573-3254
KeywordsActivities of Daily Living, California, Cognition Disorders, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Health Literacy, Health Status Disparities, HIV Infections, Humans, Internal, Male, Middle Aged, Pilot Projects, Surveys and Questionnaires
Abstract

This study sought to determine the effects of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) on health literacy, which encompasses the ability to access, understand, appraise, and apply health-related information. Participants included 56 HIV seropositive individuals, 24 of whom met Frascati criteria for HAND, and 24 seronegative subjects who were comparable on age, education, ethnicity, and oral word reading. Each participant was administered a brief battery of well-validated measures of health literacy, including the Expanded Numeracy Scale (ENS), Newest Vital Sign (NVS), Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM), and Brief Health Literacy Screen (BHLS). Results revealed significant omnibus differences on the ENS and NVS, which were driven by poorer performance in the HAND group. There were no significant differences on the REALM or the BHLS by HAND status. Among individuals with HAND, lower scores on the NVS were associated with greater severity of neurocognitive dysfunction (e.g., working memory and verbal fluency) and self-reported dependence in activities of daily living. These preliminary findings suggest that HAND hinders both fundamental (i.e., basic knowledge, such as numeracy) and critical (i.e., comprehension and application of healthcare information) health literacy capacities, and therefore may be an important factor in the prevalence of health illiteracy. Health literacy-focused intervention may play an important role in the treatment and health trajectories among persons living with HIV infection.

DOI10.1007/s10461-014-0851-7
Alternate JournalAIDS Behav
PubMed ID25008384
PubMed Central IDPMC4289466
Grant ListU24 MH100929 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
F31DA035708 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
P50 DA026306 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
U01 MH083500 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
U24MH100928 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R21 MH098607 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01MH073419 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
U24 MH100928 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
F31 DA035708 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
R21MH098607 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
L30DA034362 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH073419 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
P30MH062512 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
T32 DA031098 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
L30 DA034362 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
L30DA032120 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
P30 MH062512 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
P50DA026306 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
T32DA031098 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
L30 DA032120 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
K23 DA037793 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States