Development of Health Literacy Assessment Tool for Type 2 Diabetic Patients of Pakistan having Understanding for Urdu Language

Abstract

Background: Health literacy and its assessment is required to determine health seeking behavior of people in a community. It is the ability of an individual to gain access to health related events and resources in order to maintain and improve his own health. Health literacy level varies according to cultural and lingual diversities of a community.

Introduction: Pakistan is among the developing countries where people are seeking health services and utilizing them depending upon the availability of resources. Urdu language is understood by most of the population as it is their mother language. Almost 6 different languages are being spoken and understood among different areas of Pakistan, but health care providers are using Urdu as a common language. The Health Literacy Assessment Tool has been developed in national language to determine the health related behavior of a population.

Methodology:The health literacy tool for type 2 diabetic patients has been developed to access the ability of individual to understand and interpret the health related information provided to them. Health literacy is not merely the ability to read or write but it is also the ability to understand and seek the health related information. This tool was constructed after discussion with researchers and health care providers. Construct validity was determined through their education, understanding visual and verbal information provided to them and related to health literacy score for diabetic patients. Reliability of tool was determined by Cronbach alpha (>7).

Conclusion: It is specific tool for determination of health literacy of diabetic patients who can understand national language as provided by health professionals