The article explains the quantitative research performed to determine the effect of health literacy on the quality of care (Calvo, 2016). The title accurately describes the scope of the article because it highlights major variables (health literacy and quality of care), identifies study population (Latino immigrants), and locates jurisdiction of study (the United States). The analysis of the abstract shows that it is representative of the article because it gives a summary of health literacy, research gap, sample size, quantitative data analysis, results, and recommendations.
The introduction makes the purpose of the article clear for it explains the relationship between health literacy and the quality of care. According to Calvo (2016), health literacy determines how patients adhere to medications, comply with medical advice and adoption of preventive care. Statement of the problem is properly crafted in the article since it asserts that a low level of health literacy among Latino immigrants predisposes them to the deprived quality of care. In this view, the article effectively explains the purpose of the study to determine the impact of health literacy on the quality of care received by Latino immigrants in the United States. However, the article lacks clearly defined research questions, yet they are necessary for determining the nature of the relationship between health literacy and the quality of care. Although the theoretical framework is necessary to elucidate factors of health literacy that influence the quality of care, the article lacks it. The literature review of the study is relevant and comprehensive for it focuses on factors that affect the quality of care received by Latino immigrants. Based on literature review, Calvo (2016) identifies health literacy, education level, health insurance status, economic level, and English proficiency as factors that influence the quality of care among Latino immigrants. Additionally, a literature review used recent researches about Latino immigrants, which were performed within the past ten years, in buttressing the need of the study.
The study employed survey design, which is appropriate in collecting data from participants through telephone interviews. The sample size of participants is sufficient because the study used convenience method of sampling and interviewed 4,013 respondents, which were adjusted to 2,996 Latino immigrants through post-survey analysis to enhance the representation of the target population (Calvo, 2016). Given that the study utilized a quantitative approach to examine the relationship between the quality of care and health literacy, data collection instrument was required. The study collected data by interviewing participants using structured questions that measured the quality of care and health literacy. As the study employed established scales of the quality of care and health literacy, it accounted for the validity and reliability of the findings. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis used in the analysis of data are consistent with the purpose and research design.
The article represented the results of the quality of care and odds ratios relative to the diverse characteristics of Latino immigrants in two tables. Additionally, the article has clearly explained the results by showing that there is a statistically significant effect of health literacy on the quality of care. In the discussion, the article effectively explained the relevance and significance of the findings to nursing. According to Calvo (2016), the study has significant implications since its findings have demonstrated that health literacy is a determinant of the quality of care, just like education and income. However, failure to establish a cause-effect relationship, the existence of bias in self-reporting, and the presence of confounding factors among Latinos are limitations of the study that reduce the validity and reliability of the findings (Calvo, 2016). Based on research findings, the study recommends the improvement of health literacy among underserved populations such as Latinos to improve the quality of care and health outcomes. The rating of the article using the scale of American Association of Critical-Care Nurses shows that the level and the quality of evidence is C because the study is non-experimental but applies quantitative approach and rigorous process of sampling, data collection, and analysis. Since the results and recommendations are relevant to nursing, I can apply them to improve the quality of care and outcomes among patients with low health literacy.
Reference
Calvo, R. (2016). Health literacy and quality of care among Latino immigrants in the United States. Health & Social Work, 41(1), 44-53. Web.