Third Place

Background: Inadequate health literacy has been correlated with poorer health and worse outcomes in musculoskeletal health. It is therefore helpful to identify those with deficiencies to obtain better results. Through the use of a previously developed Literacy in Musculoskeletal Problems (LiMP) questionnaire, the prevalence of musculoskeletal literacy was compared between patients in an emergency department (ED) and an outpatient orthopaedic practice. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 130 participants completed a demographic survey and the LiMP questionnaire. A t-test was used to compare the prevalence of inadequate literacy in the ED and outpatient settings. A x2 test determined the influence of demographic parameters. Results: The overall prevalence of inadequate musculoskeletal literacy was 45%. Outpatients were significantly more likely to possess adequate literacy as compared with ED subjects (P<0.05). In both groups, patients who had previously seen a physician for a musculoskeletal complaint were significantly more likely to have adequate musculoskeletal literacy (P<0.05). In the ED, Caucasians also were significantly more likely to have adequate musculoskeletal literacy (P<0.05) compared with other ethnicities. Conclusions: The prevalence of inadequate musculoskeletal literacy is concerning as is the discrepancy in literacy observed between ED and outpatient participants. Future interventions and educational campaigns must focus on the demographics most at-risk, such as those identified in this study.