Characteristics
Domains assessed:
Prose: Comprehension, Numeracy, Information seeking: Document, Comprehension
Specific context:
Nutrition
Validation sample population age:
Older Adults: 65+ years, Adults: 18 to 64 years
Modes of administration in validation study:
Face-to-face
Psychometrics
Number of items:
6
Sample size in validation study:
148
Administration Time (minutes):
3 minutes
Language of validated version:
English
Main article reference
Weiss, B.D., Mays, M.Z., Martz, W., Castro, K.M., DeWalt, D.A., Pignone, M.P., Mockbee, J., & Hale, F.A. (2005). Quick assessment of literacy in primary care: the newest vital sign. Ann Fam Med, 3(6):514-22
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Corresponding author
Barry Weiss
Description
General health literacy test using an ice cream nutritional label; Spanish version also available
Year Measure first Published: 2005
About This Measure
Categorical scoring:
Yes
Scoring categories:
Sum score (0–6) categorized, with (0–1) high likelihood limited literacy, (2–3) possibility of limited literacy, and (4–6) adequate literacy
NOTE: There is no time limit, but most individuals complete the assessment in about 3-4 minutes.
About the Validation of this Measure
Country where validated:
United States of America
Content validity:
The development of the new instrument involved serially testing candidate scenarios and candidate questions on more than 1,000 patients. The original scenarios were developed by a panel of health literacy experts based on the concepts and types of scenarios used in health literacy research and in general literacy (reading and writing) assessments. The scenarios and questions were refined after feedback from patients, interviewers, and data analysts about the clarity and ease of scoring of items.
