Background: Low literacy is associated with poor self-management of disease and increased hospitalization, yet few studies have explored the extent to which physicians consider literacy in their patient care.
Objective: To examine trainee recognition of low literacy as a potential factor in patient adherence and hospital readmission.
Design and participants: Randomized study of 98 Internal Medicine residents and medical students. Trainees reviewed a case history and completed a questionnaire pertaining to a fictional patient's hospital readmission. Case version A contained clues to suggest limited patient literacy skills, while version B did not. Responses were reviewed for mention of low literacy and educational strategies recommended for low-literate patients.
Results: Few trainees raised the possibility of low patient literacy, even when provided clues (25% in Group A vs 4% in Group B, P=.003). Furthermore, while most trainees listed patient education as an important means of preventing another readmission, only 16% suggested using a strategy recommended for low-literate adults.
Conclusion: Few trainees recognized low literacy as a potential factor in patient nonadherence and hospital readmission, and few recommended low-literate educational strategies. Medical residents and students may benefit from additional training in the recognition and counseling of low-literate patients.