The Use of the Newest Vital Sign Health Literacy Instrument in Adolescents With Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to discuss the use of the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) health literacy instrument in adolescents with sickle cell disease. The NVS evaluates both literacy and numeracy (the ability to understand and work with numbers) as well as the ability to locate and apply information. It is important to validate the NVS for use in adolescents, as the only currently validated instrument, the Rapid Estimate of Adolescent Literacy in Medicine–Teen (REALM-Teen), does not measure numeracy or the ability to locate or apply information. This cross-sectional, descriptive, exploratory correlational study included appraisal of data from completion of the REALM-Teen and NVS instruments by a convenience sample of 75 adolescents with sickle cell disease. The mean age of this study sample was 14.7 years ( SD = 2.2). The mean grade level of participants was 8.7 ( SD = 2.2). Internal consistency for the NVS in this population was acceptable (α = .63). Criterion validity was based on correlations between raw scores on the NVS and raw scores on the REALM-Teen. There was a significant moderate, positive correlation between NVS and REALM-Teen scores ( r = .38, p < .01), demonstrating good criterion validity. Preliminary evidence for reliability and validity of the NVS in this population was established.