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BMC Primary Care
Published in: BMC Primary Care 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research article

The relationship between literacy and multimorbidity in a primary care setting

Authors: Catherine Hudon, Martin Fortin, Marie-Eve Poitras, José Almirall

Published in: BMC Primary Care | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Background

Multimorbidity is now acknowledged as a research priority in primary care. The identification of risk factors and people most at risk is an important step in guiding prevention and intervention strategies. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between literacy and multimorbidity while controlling for potential confounders.

Methods

Participants were adult patients attending the family medicine clinic of a regional health centre in Saguenay (Quebec), Canada. Literacy was measured with the Newest Vital Sign (NVS). Multimorbidity was measured with the Disease Burden Morbidity Assessment (DBMA) by self-report. Information on potential confounders (age, sex, education and family income) was also collected. The association between literacy (independent variable) and multimorbidity was examined in bivariate and multivariate analyses. Two operational definitions of multimorbidity were used successively as the dependent variable; confounding variables were introduced into the model as potential predictors.

Results

One hundred three patients (36 men) 19–83 years old were recruited; 41.8% had completed 12 years of school or less. Forty-seven percent of patients provided fewer than four correct answers on the NVS (possible low literacy) whereas 53% had four correct responses or more. Literacy and multimorbidity were associated in bivariate analyses (p < 0.01) but not in multivariate analyses, including age and family income.

Conclusion

This study suggests that there is no relationship between literacy and multimorbidity when controlling for age and family income.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
The relationship between literacy and multimorbidity in a primary care setting
Authors
Catherine Hudon
Martin Fortin
Marie-Eve Poitras
José Almirall
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Primary Care / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 2731-4553
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2296-13-33

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