The Relationship between Health Literacy and Health Disparities: A Systematic Review.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Health literacy is commonly associated with many of the antecedents of health disparities. Yet the precise nature of the relationship between health literacy and disparities remains unclear. A systematic review was conducted to better understand in how far the relationship between health literacy and health disparities has been systematically studied and which potential relationships and pathways have been identified.

Methods

Five databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE and CINAHL, were searched for peer-reviewed studies. Publications were included in the review when they (1) included a valid measure of health literacy, (2) explicitly conceived a health disparity as related to a social disparity, such as race/ethnicity or education and (3) when results were presented

SUBMITTER: Mantwill S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4689381 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature