The mechanisms linking health literacy to behavior and health status

Objective: To examine the mechanisms linking health literacy to physical activity and selfreported health. Methods: From 2005-2007, patients (N=330) with hypertension were recruited from safety net clinics. Pathanalytic models tested the pathways linking health literacy to physical activity and self-reported health. Results: There were significant paths from health literacy to knowledge (r=0.22, P<0.001), knowledge to self-efficacy (r=0.13, P<0.01), self-efficacy to physical activity (r=0.17, P<0.01), and physical activity to health status (r=0.17, P<0.01). Conclusions: Health education interventions should be literacy sensitive and aim to enhance patient health knowledge and self-efficacy to promote self-care behavior and desirable health outcomes.