Saudi Journal of Emergency Medicine

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Original Article
SJEMed. 2022; 3(1): 088-095

Health literacy and education: a cross-sectional study using the Newest Vital Sign among patients in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Authors: Ludmilla F. Wikkeling-Scott, Monique McCray, Rahma Y. Ajja, Alaa Soliman.

View PDF HTML Fulltext DOI: 10.24911/SJEMed/72-1603709287

Abstract

Background: Few studies have examined health literacy in the United Arab Emirates and a limited number of tools for use in Arabic speaking populations exist. The aim of this study was to describe health literacy level and related factors such as education and exposure to nutrition education, among patients visiting the emergency room. Methods: Data were collected from 590 patients in 2018 at the emergency department in a multinational setting. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between health literacy, education and other demographic variables. Results: The mean age of patients was 32.9 (±10.7), of whom 44.3% had less than a college education. The average Newest Vital Sign score was 2.69 (±2.33) out of 6. Over a third of the patients (38.5%) had a high likelihood of limited health literacy, 17.2% had the possibility of limited health literacy and 44.3% had adequate health literacy. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that having less than a college level education was a significant predictor for inadequate health literacy among participating patients [odds ratio (OR) = 2.23; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.52, 3.30, p < 0.001]. This was also true for those who never attended a nutrition education session (OR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.24, 2.79, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The current study results lend support to expanding health literacy research in this multinational population where the majority have a secondary education. How patients obtain information, interact with health care providers and become empowered to participate in their care must be further explored to improve health literacy outcomes.

Keywords:   education, health literacy, Newest Vital Sign, United Arab Emirates


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Open access Creative Commons License
Health literacy and education: a cross-sectional study using the Newest Vital Sign among patients in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates


Authors
Ludmilla F Wikkeling-Scott
Morgan State University School of Community Health and Policy, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Monique McCray
Emergency Department, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE
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Rahma Y Ajja
Department of Health Sciences, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
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Alaa Soliman
Department of Pharmacy, Fatima College of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
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Correspondence to:
. Ludmilla F. Wikkeling-Scott, Morgan State University School of Community Health and Policy, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.; ludmilla.scott@allsaintsu.org

Publication history
Received 27 Oct 2020
Revised 12 Feb 2021
Accepted 11 Dec 2021
Published online 31 Dec 2021
Published in print 07 Mar 2022

How to cite this article

Pubmed Style

Wikkeling-Scott LF, McCray M, Ajja RY, Soliman A. Health literacy and education: a cross-sectional study using the Newest Vital Sign among patients in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. SJEMed. 2022; 3(1): 088-095. doi:10.24911/SJEMed/72-1603709287


Web Style

Wikkeling-Scott LF, McCray M, Ajja RY, Soliman A. Health literacy and education: a cross-sectional study using the Newest Vital Sign among patients in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. https://www.sjemed.com/?mno=21094 [Access: March 20, 2023]. doi:10.24911/SJEMed/72-1603709287


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Wikkeling-Scott LF, McCray M, Ajja RY, Soliman A. Health literacy and education: a cross-sectional study using the Newest Vital Sign among patients in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. SJEMed. 2022; 3(1): 088-095. doi:10.24911/SJEMed/72-1603709287


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Wikkeling-Scott LF, McCray M, Ajja RY, Soliman A. Health literacy and education: a cross-sectional study using the Newest Vital Sign among patients in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. SJEMed. (2022), [cited March 20, 2023]; 3(1): 088-095. doi:10.24911/SJEMed/72-1603709287


Harvard Style

Wikkeling-Scott, L. F., McCray, . M., Ajja, . R. Y. & Soliman, . A. (2022) Health literacy and education: a cross-sectional study using the Newest Vital Sign among patients in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. SJEMed, 3 (1), 088-095. doi:10.24911/SJEMed/72-1603709287


Turabian Style

Wikkeling-Scott, Ludmilla F., Monique McCray, Rahma Y. Ajja, and Alaa Soliman. 2022. Health literacy and education: a cross-sectional study using the Newest Vital Sign among patients in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Saudi Journal of Emergency Medicine, 3 (1), 088-095. doi:10.24911/SJEMed/72-1603709287


Chicago Style

Wikkeling-Scott, Ludmilla F., Monique McCray, Rahma Y. Ajja, and Alaa Soliman. "Health literacy and education: a cross-sectional study using the Newest Vital Sign among patients in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates." Saudi Journal of Emergency Medicine 3 (2022), 088-095. doi:10.24911/SJEMed/72-1603709287


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Wikkeling-Scott, Ludmilla F., Monique McCray, Rahma Y. Ajja, and Alaa Soliman. "Health literacy and education: a cross-sectional study using the Newest Vital Sign among patients in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates." Saudi Journal of Emergency Medicine 3.1 (2022), 088-095. Print. doi:10.24911/SJEMed/72-1603709287


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Wikkeling-Scott, L. F., McCray, . M., Ajja, . R. Y. & Soliman, . A. (2022) Health literacy and education: a cross-sectional study using the Newest Vital Sign among patients in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Saudi Journal of Emergency Medicine, 3 (1), 088-095. doi:10.24911/SJEMed/72-1603709287


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