Mg. Carrasco-Dajer, Claudia

Background: Health literacy is a determinant, powerful predictor of health. The Newest Vital Sign test (NVS) evaluates health literacy assessing the capacity of participants to understand the nutrition information label of an ice cream. Aim: To validate The NVS test for its application in the sociocultural context on primary care patients in Chile. Material and Methods: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, 1,117 people aged 58 ± 14 years (70% women) registered in the Cardiovascular Health Program of different Family Health Centers, answered the NVS test. They also answered the Test of Functional Health Literacy for Adults (TOFHLA) and the Health Literacy Survey, European Union (HLS-EU-32). An exploratory analysis was carried out. In addition, the Kuder-Richarson-20 reliability coefficient and Item-Test Point Biserial Correlations were calculated. The construct validity of the NVS was obtained using the Item Response Theory. The sensitivity and specificity of NVS were estimated using receiver operating characteristic curves using the TOFHLA score as gold standard. To establish the cut-off points, the Stratum-Specific Likelihood Ratio analysis was used. Results: The reliability of the test was adequate (KR-20 = 0.7478) and the values of the two logistic parameters model confirmed that the NVS items account for the health literacy construct. Conclusions: The NVS test turned out to be a valid and reliable instrument, and its application is recommended to measure the level of health literacy.

Introduction: Older people are the group with the greatest digital gap, so their digital literacy is important to improve the conditions in which they age. Methods: A study was conducted with pre- and post-evaluation of a digital literacy (DL) intervention in people aged 60 years and over. A total of 56 participants (experimental group N = 32 and control group N = 24) were recruited for convenience in community centers. The intervention was adapted to the needs of the participants, there were five face-to-face sessions and remote reinforcement for three months, carried out by trained university students for five months. Sociodemographic variables such as self-perception of socioeconomic level and education, among others, were evaluated. The impact was assessed using the digital literacy scale (MDPQ16), indicators of frequency and types of internet and mobile phone use, health literacy (SAHLSA and NSV), quality of life (SF-12), hedonic well-being (Diener’s SWLS and Cummins’ PWI) and perceived social support using the Zimet scale. Results: The intervention had a significant impact with an effect size of r = 0.27 on digital literacy, separate t-test comparisons revealed a markedly significant change for digital literacy in the experimental group, before and after the pre-post t-test(31) = 3.56, p = 0.001, but not in the control group, t(23) = 0.082, p = 0.93. No direct impact on health literacy, health-related quality of life, and hedonic well-being was identified. We examined the indirect impact of change in digital literacy and found that it correlated with improvements in well-being and social support, as well as quality of life. Individuals with significant changes were detected and compared with those who did not change. Discussion: Evaluation that contributes by identifying elements for improvement in future interventions and discusses the importance of culturally adapting continuing education in older people.