Health literacy and computer-assisted instruction: usability and patient preference.

The authors investigated the feasibility of using computer-assisted instruction in patients of varying literacy levels by examining patients' preferences for learning and their ability to use 2 computer-based educational programs. A total of 263 participants 50-74 years of age with varying health literacy levels interacted with 1 of 2 educational computer programs as part of a randomized trial of a colorectal cancer screening decision aid. A baseline and postprogram evaluation survey were completed. More than half (56%) of the participants had limited health literacy. Regardless of literacy level, doctors were the most commonly used source of medical information-used frequently by 85% of limited and adequate literacy patients. In multivariate logistic regression, only those with health insurance (OR = 2.35, p = .06) and computer use experience (OR = 0.39, p = .03) predicted the ability to complete the programs without assistance compared with those without health insurance or prior computer use, respectively. Although patients with limited health literacy had less computer experience, the majority completed the programs without any assistance and stated that they learned more than they would have from a brochure. Future research should investigate ways that computer-assisted instruction can be incorporated in medical care to enhance patient understanding.

Explaining age-related differences in depression following breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Younger women with breast cancer consistently show greater psychological distress than older women. This study examined a range of factors that might explain these age differences. A total of 653 women within 8 months of a first-time breast cancer diagnosis provided data on patient characteristics, symptoms, and psychosocial variables. Chart reviews provided cancer and treatment-related data. The primary outcome was depressive symptomatology assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory. A succession of models that built hierarchically upon each other was used to determine which variables could account for age group differences in depression. Model 1 contained age group only. Models 2-5 successively added patient characteristics, cancer-related variables, symptoms, and psychosocial variables. As expected, in the unadjusted analysis (Model 1) younger women were significantly more likely to report depressive symptomatology than older women (p < 0.0001). Age remained significantly related to depression until Model 4 which added bodily pain and vasomotor symptoms (p = 0.24; R (2) = 0.27). The addition of psychosocial variables in Model 5 also resulted in a model in which age was nonsignificant (p = 0.49; R (2) = 0.49). Secondary analyses showed that illness intrusiveness (the degree that illness intrudes on specific areas of life such as work, sex life, recreation, etc.) was the only variable which, considered individually with age, made the age group-depression association nonsignificant. Age differences in risk of depression following a breast cancer diagnosis can be explained by the impact of cancer and its treatment on specific areas of a woman's life.