Health Literacy
An Economic Perspective
At a glance
- Project leader : Prof. Dr. Urs Brügger
- Project team : Prof. Dr. Klaus Eichler, Prof. Dr. Simon Wieser
- Project budget : CHF 80'000
- Project status : completed
- Funding partner : Foundation
- Project partner : Gesundheitsförderung Schweiz / MSD Schweiz
- Contact person : Simon Wieser
Description
The costs of limited health literacy: a systematic review
Eichler, K., Wieser, S. & Brügger, U. Int J Public Health (2009)
54: 313. doi.org/10.1007/s00038-009-0058-2
Abstract
Objectives:To summarize evidence about (1) the costs of limited
health literacy (HL) and (2) the cost-effectiveness of
interventions to improve limited HL.
Methods: We performed a systematic review searching electronic databases and additional information resources. We included observational studies and interventional studies with HL-outcomes. We included populations at high risk for low HL and patients with (1) diabetes mellitus or (2) hyperlipidemia.
Results: We retrieved 2,340 papers and included 10 studies for analysis. The prevalence of limited HL is considerable (range 34–59%). On the health system level, the additional costs of limited HL range from 3 to 5% of the total health care cost per year. On the patient level, the additional expenditures per year per person with limited HL compared to persons with adequate HL range from US $143 to 7,798. Data on the cost-effectiveness of interventions to improve limited HL are scarce.
Conclusion: The costs of limited HL may be substantial, but few studies were retrieved and the results are heterogeneous.
Publications
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2019.
Health literacy : contradicting 50 years of research?.
International Journal of Public Health.
64(5), pp. 643-644.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-019-01257-6