Health literacy in Indigenous people with chronic disease living in remote Australia
Health literacy in Indigenous people with chronic disease living in remote Australia Journal Article
BMC Health Services Research
- Author(s): Rheault, Haunnah, Coyer, Fiona, Jones, Lee, Bonner, Ann
- Published: 2019
- Volume: 19
- ISBN: 1472-6963
Abstract: Health literacy is strongly associated with health outcomes and is important for health policy and service delivery. Low health literacy was reported in 59% of Australian adults, however, there is no national data on the health literacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) peoples. The ATSI population in Australia experience a notable gap in health outcomes compared with non-Indigenous Australians which is due, in part to a higher prevalence of chronic diseases. The health outcome gap is more pronounced in rural and remote locations. This study aims to establish the health literacy profile of ATSI adults with chronic disease living in remote North-West Queensland Australia, and to investigate associations between the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) domains and self-reported chronic disease and demographic characteristics.