Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the health literacy assessment tool METER in the Portuguese adult population

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Paiva, D (Author) Other; Silva S (Author) FMUP; Severo M (Author) FMUP; Ferreira, P (Author) Other; Santos, O (Author) Other; Lunet N (Author) FMUP; Azevedo A (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Patient Education and Counseling

Vol. 97

Pages: 269-275

ISSN: 0738-3991

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 20 Citations

Scopus - 25 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-ZNK

DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2014.07.024

Abstract (EN): Objective: We aimed to culturally adapt and validate METER in the Portuguese population, and to define cut-off values for adequate health literacy. Methods: We used the standard procedure for the adaptation of the words and surveyed health professionals to select the non-words. The instrument was administered to a total sample of 249 participants and retested in a sub-sample of 45 after three months. Cut-offs were defined using the modified Angoff procedure. Construct validity was assessed through association with educational attainment and health-related occupation. Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed two dimensions of the instrument, one for words and another for non-words. METER showed a high degree of internal consistency, and acceptable test-retest reliability. Adequate health literacy was defined as scoring at least 35/40 in words and 18/30 in non-words. Physicians scored higher than any other group, followed by health researchers, researchers from other areas and by people with progressively lower levels of education (p < 0.001). Conclusion: We culturally adapted a brief and simple instrument for health literacy assessment, and showed it was valid and reliable. Practice implications: The Portuguese version of METER can be used to assess health literacy in Portuguese adults and to explore associations with health outcomes.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7