RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Health Literacy in Geriatric Patients

This study explores how well healthcare professionals in an older adults' clinic understand their patients' 'health literacy' – that's how easily people can get their heads around health information to make choices. Often, doctors think patients understand more than they actually do, which can be tricky, especially for older adults who might have memory issues or several health problems. Researchers will ask doctors and patients (and their relatives) to estimate health understanding, then use a simple questionnaire to measure it. They'll also check in by phone after six months to see if any health concerns have come up. The goal is to see if measuring health literacy better can lead to improved care.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation

Enrolment target

100

Start

26 Feb 2025

Estimated completion

31 Dec 2025

Health Literacy

What is this study about?

This study is about something called 'health literacy.' Simply put, health literacy is about how well you can find, understand, and use health information to make good decisions about your own health and care. It's really important because if it's hard for someone to understand medical terms or instructions, it can be tough to manage their health conditions, follow advice, and even know when to seek help. This can sometimes lead to more doctor visits or hospital stays.

Doctors and other healthcare staff don't always know how well their patients understand health information. Often, they might think patients understand more than they actually do. This can be particularly true for older adults, who might be dealing with memory changes or several health problems at once. When doctors don't realise this, they might not explain things as clearly as needed, which can make it harder for patients to get the best care.

This study aims to get a clearer picture of this. Researchers want to see if the doctor's best guess about a patient's health understanding matches what a simple, easy-to-answer questionnaire says. They also want to include the views of a patient's family member or carer, as they often have a good idea of how well their loved one understands things. By looking at all these different views, and then following up with a phone call after six months, the study hopes to learn more about how understanding health information affects a person's health over time. This could help healthcare teams find better ways to communicate and support older patients in the future.

Key takeaways

Study looks at how well patients understand health information.
Doctors will guess patient understanding, while patients and relatives will also provide input.
A simple questionnaire will be used to measure understanding.
No changes to your current medical care are involved.
A phone call will follow up after six months.
Aims to improve how doctors communicate with older patients.

Who may be eligible?

To take part in this study, you need to be attending the Geriatric Clinic at St. Peter's Hospital. This means you could be a new patient or someone who has been there before for a follow-up appointment. It's also important that you (or your caregiver, if you're not able to yourself) are happy to take part and give your permission to be included.

There are a few reasons why someone might not be able to join the study. For example, if you have certain types of behavioural symptoms that might get worse by answering extra questions, or if you're very unwell right now. Also, if you have a terminal illness that would make it impossible to have a phone call in six months, you wouldn't be able to join. Finally, if you've already taken part in this specific study before, you wouldn't be eligible again.

The study is for adults generally aged 65 and up, there isn't an upper limit, and it's open to all genders.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a patient (new or follow-up) at St. Peter's Hospital Geriatric Clinic?
Are you willing and able to participate, or can your caregiver do so for you?
Are you generally aged 65 or older?
Are you not currently experiencing an acute illness that would prevent your participation?
Are you available for a phone call in about six months?
Have you NOT previously taken part in this specific study?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you will be asked some questions during your clinic visit. These questions will help measure your understanding of health information, similar to a simple quiz. Your doctor and other clinic staff will also be asked to guess how well they think you understand health information. If you have a relative or caregiver with you, they might also be asked to complete a short questionnaire about your health understanding.

There are no changes to your usual medication or treatment because of this study. The researchers plan to follow up with you by phone about six months after your clinic visit. This call will be to see how you've been doing and if any new health concerns have come up. The total duration of your involvement, from the clinic visit to the follow-up call, would be about six months.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study won't directly improve your health right away, but the information collected could help doctors and nurses better understand how to communicate with older patients in the future, which might lead to better care for everyone. There are very few risks involved; you might spend a little extra time at your clinic visit answering questions, and you'll have a follow-up phone call. You are free to change your mind and stop participating at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

St. Peter's Geriatric Clinic
Verified postcode
Hamilton, Canada· Recruiting

Common questions

What is 'health literacy'?

It's about how well you understand health information to make choices about your health.

Will my care at the clinic change if I join the study?

No, your medical care and treatment will stay exactly the same.

Do I have to answer all the questions?

You can skip any question you don't feel comfortable answering.

What happens to my information?

Your personal details will be kept private, and your answers will be used for research to help improve patient care.

How long will the study last for me?

You'll be involved during one clinic visit and then have a phone call about six months later.

How to find out more

Christopher Patterson, Professor of Medicine

pattec4@mcmaster.ca (905) 521-2100 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.