This document proposes developing a survey instrument to measure patient comprehension and identify different groups based on their levels of healthcare literacy. The goals are to establish better communication between patients and providers, increase patient safety and quality of life. The proposed approach includes determining patient parameters, developing a custom survey, analyzing the data using statistical methods to identify different literacy factor groups, and integrating the survey into the medical process. If implemented, the survey could help providers tailor their communication based on a patient's identified comprehension level.

1. Mission Area: LSU Healthcare Literacy, Patient Safety and Enhanced Communication.
Proposal Title: Test Survey Instrument to Measure Patient Comprehension and Communication Modes.
 New Effort to modify principles pioneered in:
o Offeror research to develop survey and clustering methodology
- Univ. of IL at Chicago College of Medicine project
- Abbott Laboratories project
o Research at Univ. of WI, Madison and Univ. of IL at Chicago
 Technology Involved: Survey, Varimax rotation, survey instrument delivery
 Tasks
1. Determine patient parameters
2. Determine survey instrument protocols
3. Identify patient levels of literacy or comprehension of their disease state
4. Analyze data using varimax rotation to identify disease literacy factor
groups
5. Breakdown patient population into medical literacy factor groups
6. Determine factor group specific medical education intervention
7. Integrate use of survey information into medical reception and admission
process
8. Final test of prototype
Proposed Project Approach
The goal of this project is to develop survey protocols and parameters for
assessing patient healthcare literacy levels. This is done by measuring opinions
and attitudes about their healthcare experience.
● Establish new levels of understanding and communication between patient & providers
● Establish greater quality of life and safety for all stakeholders
● Develop custom patient survey to identify a communication style and level of
healthcare comprehension from among patient population.
● Identify and clarify patient factor groups using rigorous mathematical
analysis.
Operational Capability to be Provided:
1. Establish and identify an individual patient’s level of healthcare literacy and
comprehension via survey.
2 Increase patient knowledge, understanding, disease management ownership.
3. As a result, increase patient safety and enhance their quality of life.
4. Assist medical staff in treatment planning.
5. Enhance communication and understanding among all stakeholders.
Survey Objectives and Deliverables
● Survey methodology is an objective way of analyzing subjective patient data
which allows assessment of reliability and validity.
● Patient opinions and attitudes are not the stimulus, but the key.
● There is great richness in the subjective experience of the individual.
● Generating testable hypotheses in the absence of theory (Then use scientific
method to test the hypotheses.)
● Uses qualitative methods to allow respondents to say something about their
own subjective attitudes that can be tested, measured and compared.
● Uses quantitative factor analysis, data reduction and induction to generate
testable hypotheses.
CORPORATE INFORMATION:
Qualitative Technologies, Inc., Thomas Muscarello, Ph.D.
David R Donohue, M.A.
QTinc@alumni.northwestern.edu
Proposed Technical Approach
Survey System Architecture
Test Population
Focus Groups
Database
Analyze Factor Groups
Survey PatientsDevelop Survey
Statements
Barriers to Health
1 Can't remember
to take meds
2 Dr. isn't available
3 I feel tired in the
morning
Survey Statements
Conditions of Instruction
Hospital