Health Literacy and Health Care Utilization in Austria.
Journal
Health literacy research and practice
ISSN: 2474-8307
Titre abrégé: Health Lit Res Pract
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101712185
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Oct 2023
Oct 2023
Historique:
medline:
9
11
2023
pubmed:
8
11
2023
entrez:
7
11
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Efficient use of health care is crucial for health care systems; the literature reveals that health literacy (HL) plays an important role in health services utilization. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between HL and health care utilization in Austria. Registered data of 1,010 persons in the general population concerning costs of doctor visits, medication costs, and number, days, and costs of hospitalization were analyzed using a cross-sectional design for the observation period 2017 to 2019. HL was measured as general, digital, and navigational HL using the Austrian part of the European Health Literacy Survey between March 2020 and May 2020. Multivariable two-part hurdle regressions with generalized linear models, considering sociodemographic variables and chronic illnesses, were conducted to investigate the relationship between HL and health care utilization. Navigational HL had a significant negative effect on the odds of causing costs at general practitioners, not adjusting (b = -0.02) and adjusting (b = -0.01) for sociodemographic variables and chronic illnesses. The effect was small, and no significant effect on any other type of analyzed health care was found. Further research on specific populations (e.g., persons with chronic diseases such as diabetes), rather than the general population, may reveal relevant effects of HL on health care utilization measured by registered data in Austria. [ This study examines the relationship between HL and health care use in Austria, as measured by insurance data. Our results show no relevant differences in health care usage between people with low and high HL. A focus on persons with chronic diseases may be necessary to determine a relevant relationship.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Efficient use of health care is crucial for health care systems; the literature reveals that health literacy (HL) plays an important role in health services utilization.
OBJECTIVE
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to analyze the relationship between HL and health care utilization in Austria.
METHODS
METHODS
Registered data of 1,010 persons in the general population concerning costs of doctor visits, medication costs, and number, days, and costs of hospitalization were analyzed using a cross-sectional design for the observation period 2017 to 2019. HL was measured as general, digital, and navigational HL using the Austrian part of the European Health Literacy Survey between March 2020 and May 2020. Multivariable two-part hurdle regressions with generalized linear models, considering sociodemographic variables and chronic illnesses, were conducted to investigate the relationship between HL and health care utilization.
KEY RESULTS
RESULTS
Navigational HL had a significant negative effect on the odds of causing costs at general practitioners, not adjusting (b = -0.02) and adjusting (b = -0.01) for sociodemographic variables and chronic illnesses. The effect was small, and no significant effect on any other type of analyzed health care was found.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Further research on specific populations (e.g., persons with chronic diseases such as diabetes), rather than the general population, may reveal relevant effects of HL on health care utilization measured by registered data in Austria. [
PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY
CONCLUSIONS
This study examines the relationship between HL and health care use in Austria, as measured by insurance data. Our results show no relevant differences in health care usage between people with low and high HL. A focus on persons with chronic diseases may be necessary to determine a relevant relationship.
Autres résumés
Type: plain-language-summary
(eng)
This study examines the relationship between HL and health care use in Austria, as measured by insurance data. Our results show no relevant differences in health care usage between people with low and high HL. A focus on persons with chronic diseases may be necessary to determine a relevant relationship.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37935383
doi: 10.3928/24748307-20231019-01
pmc: PMC10629904
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
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