Understanding Patient Rights: A Pilot Study Assessing Health Literacy in Written Pre-Appointment Letters

TL;DR

This study explores how well patients understand their rights in healthcare appointment letters, finding that education and internet use help with comprehension.

Contribution

The study identifies gaps in patients' understanding of legal rights in healthcare communications and links literacy to education and internet use.

Findings

Higher education and internet use correlate with better appraisal of legal information in appointment letters.

Patients struggle more with assessing and appraising information than understanding or applying it.

Simplified language and alternative formats are suggested to improve patient comprehension of rights.

Abstract

This pilot study examined how sociodemographic factors (age, education, internet usage) influence patients’ comprehension of written healthcare communications, and their understanding of patient rights as articulated in appointment letters. A cross-sectional study was conducted among in-clinic patients at three Danish hospitals. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire, assessing health literacy through four domains: assessing, understanding, appraising, and applying information from appointment letters. The questionnaire included sociodemographic data, Internet usage, IT competencies, and self-assessed health. Overall, 364 patients participated, with the majority being female and aged between 35 and 74 years. The mean scores for the domains of understanding and applying information were higher compared to assessing and appraising. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that higher education levels positively correlated with the ability to appraise legal information, while frequent internet usage also enhanced appraisal skills. Findings highlight a concerning gap in patients’ ability to understand and appraise their patient rights within written healthcare communications. While patients demonstrate reasonable skills in understanding basic information, critical legal aspects remain challenging. Enhancing education and digital literacy may improve comprehension, emphasizing the need for simplified language and alternative formats in appointment letters. Further research is warranted to optimize communication strategies for patient rights.

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