Predictors of Intention to Use Health Literacy Strategies Among Physicians in Grenada

Low health literacy is linked to poor health outcomes. Adequate health literacy depends on effective communication between patients and their healthcare providers, so it is important physicians use health literacy strategies. Grounded in the theory of planned behavior, the aim of this quantitative correlational study was to investigate the relationship between health literacy knowledge, health literacy experience, gender, the region of training, years of practice, and intentions to use health literacy strategies among physicians in Grenada. One hundred and eighteen physicians were sampled using a cross-sectional survey method. The results of the multiple linear regression analysis were significant, F(5, 112) = 7.38, p \u3c .001, R2 = .248. Health literacy knowledge (t = 3.901, p \u3c .001), health literacy experience (t = 3.056, p = .003), and years in practice (t = -.195, p = .027) significantly predicted intentions to use health literacy strategies. Gender and region of training did not provide any predictive value. The implications for positive social change include the potential for health literacy training and inclusion in medical school curricula. The provision of health literacy training at all levels of education and practice aid in ensuring physicians are knowledgeable about the health literacy process, able to use strategies that can improve patients’ health literacy, and able to improve patient health outcomes