Validation of the Arabic Version of the Health Literacy (HLS-Q12) Questionnaire in chronically ill patients

Bibliographic Data

ID22945522
AuthorsOriana Awwad (0000-0003-1750-6684, Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, the University of Jordan , Amman , Jordan), Suha A AlMuhaissen (University of Jordan), Suha AlMuhaissen (0000-0002-5177-1222, University of Jordan), Mohammad Al-Kharouf (Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, the University of Jordan , Amman , Jordan), Ayat Al-Nashwan (Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, the University of Jordan , Amman , Jordan), Mariam Abdeljalil (Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, the University of Jordan , Amman , Jordan), Walid Al‐Qerem (0000-0001-9831-7572, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan), Walid Al-Qerem (Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan)
Year2023
Volume38
Issue3
Publication date2023-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Promotion International (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/heapro/daad037
PMID37133881
OpenAlexW4367835038
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited35

Health literacy (HL) is an essential component of public health. Few tools are used to measure HL in Arabic-speaking countries, essentially the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults and the Single Item Literacy Screener. The new 12-item version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-Q12), has not been validated in the Arabic language. This study aimed to translate the English version of HLS-Q12 into Arabic, test its structure and explain any variance in HLS-Q12 scores, allowing its use in Arabic-speaking healthcare contexts. A forward–backward translation was adopted. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s α. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Rasch Model evaluated the model fit of the Arabic version of HLS-12. The effects of different patient-related variables on HLS-Q12 scores were tested using linear regression. A total of 389 patients visiting the site hospital outpatient clinics participated in the study. HLS-Q12 mean ± SD score was 35.8 ± 5.0, 50.9% of the participants showed an intermediate HL score. Good reliability (α = 0.832) was observed. CFA confirmed the scale unidimensionality. Rasch analysis indicated HLS-Q12 items to be within the fit acceptable thresholds except for Item 12. The only item that displayed unordered response categories was Item 4. Most of the items were considered relatively easy by respondents. Linear regression revealed age, education, healthcare-related education and income to have effects significantly different from zero on HLS-Q12 score. Interventions targeting the most health-disparate groups of individuals with characteristics contributing to lower HL, are needed.

Arabic · Confirmatory factor analysis · Cronbach's alpha · Developmental psychology · Health care · Health literacy · Literacy · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Psychometrics · Rasch model · Reliability (semiconductor) · Statistics · Structural equation modeling · Test (biology) · Chronic Disease Management Strategies · Clinical Psychology · Health Literacy and Information Accessibility · Mathematics · Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare · Psychology

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