Literacy skills, language use, and online health information seeking among Hispanic adults in the United States

Roberto J Millar; Shalini Sahoo; Takashi Yamashita; Phyllis A Cummins

doi:10.1016/j.pec.2020.02.030

Literacy skills, language use, and online health information seeking among Hispanic adults in the United States

Patient Educ Couns. 2020 Aug;103(8):1595-1600. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2020.02.030. Epub 2020 Feb 22.

Authors

Roberto J Millar¹, Shalini Sahoo², Takashi Yamashita³, Phyllis A Cummins⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Health Administration and Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA; Gerontology Doctoral Program, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: milla4@umbc.edu.
² Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Health Administration and Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA; Gerontology Doctoral Program, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA.
³ Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Health Administration and Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁴ The Scripps Gerontology Center, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA.

PMID: 32115313
DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2020.02.030

Abstract

Objective: Online health information is underutilized among Hispanics with low English proficiency in the U.S. This study examines the association between a unique measure of general English literacy, language use, and online health information seeking among Hispanic adults.

Methods: Data for Hispanics ages 25-65 (N = 700) come from the 2012/2014 Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). Binary logistic regression models were used to predict online health information seeking as a function of literacy skill scores (0-500 points) and primary language use (Spanish vs. other).

Results: Literacy (Odds-Ratio = 1.012, p < 0.001) was a positive predictor, while speaking Spanish at home (Odds-Ratio = 0.352, p < 0.01) was a negative predictor of online health information seeking.

Conclusion: Literacy skills and language use appear to be separate contributors of online health information seeking among Hispanic adults.

Practice implications: Online health information providers should be aware of literacy skills and Spanish language use as barriers to online health information seeking among Hispanics, particularly those who have both limited literacy skills and predominantly Spanish language use.

Keywords: Digital divide; Latinos; Social determinants of health; eHealth.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Female
Health Literacy*
Hispanic or Latino / psychology*
Humans
Information Seeking Behavior*
Internet
Language*
Male
Middle Aged
Social Determinants of Health
Telemedicine
United States