Development of a health literacy instrument related to diabetic foot

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: To develop and verify the validity, reliability and interpretability of an assessment instrument of the Health Literacy regarding Diabetic Foot (HLDF). Method: Methodological study among people with diabetes enrolled in Family Health Strategy (FHS) program, composed of eight phases: selection of participants; development of LSPD; verification of content validity by the committee of experts; pre-test (n=20); reliability estimation (n=62): Cronbach's alpha (CA), Kappa (K) and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), satisfactory results (≥0.60); estimation of concurrent validity (n=62); interpretability of scores: range from 0-18, if ≤14 HLDF inadequate; hypothesis test (multiple logistic regression): OR/IC95% in a sample estimated for infinite population, using SPSS. Results: The HLDF has adequate and fast application, being relevant as to its content and to the construct that proposes to evaluate. About the reliability CA=0.73, two items presented Kappa<0.60, ICC=0.79. About the concurrent validity, there was correlation between the HLDF and schooling (rs=0.647; p=0.000). Interpretability: 50.2% (n=112) presented inadequate HLDF. The younger ones presented lower levels of inadequate HLDF (0.96/0.93-0.99); as to those with lower scholarship (1.15/1.06-1.25) and lower family income (1.01/1.00-1.01) presented higher levels of inadequate HLDF. Conclusion and implications for practice: The HLDF was considered as valid, reliable and interpretable. The HLDF can identify people with more effective educational strategies needs.