Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40629298›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2025

Using cluster analysis to identify the health literacy strengths and challenges of people living with motor neurone disease in Australia.

Arabelle Douglas, Maryanne McPhee, Fiona Fisher, Christina Cheng, Anjali Henders, Laura Ziser, Julie C Stout, Matthew C Kiernan, Richard Osborne, Susan Mathers

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Article in BMC health services research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Arabelle DouglasCalvary Health Care Bethlehem, Melbourne, Australia. arabelle.douglas@calvarycare.org.au.
Maryanne McPheeCalvary Health Care Bethlehem, Melbourne, Australia.
Fiona FisherCalvary Health Care Bethlehem, Melbourne, Australia.
Christina ChengGlobal Health and Equity Development Hub, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
Anjali HendersInstitute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Laura ZiserInstitute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Julie C StoutSchool of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Matthew C KiernanNeuRA, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.
Richard OsborneGlobal Health and Equity Development Hub, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
Susan MathersCalvary Health Care Bethlehem, Melbourne, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere is growing appreciation of the role health literacy plays in population health and health care design. Health literacy encompasses an individual's capacity to manage their health and the responsiveness of the health system. Our aim was to identify the health literacy strengths and challenges in an Australian cohort living with motor neurone disease (MND), including both people living with the disease and their carers.

methodsThis study used the Health Literacy Questionnaire and eHealth Literacy Questionnaire for health literacy assessment. Using a secure online platform, an anonymous survey was disseminated which included demographic data and clinical measurements. Descriptive statistical analysis and cluster analysis were employed to describe the sample and to identify different health literacy patterns in subgroups of people living with MND and their carers.

resultsA total of 227 people participated (171 people living with MND and 56 carers). Cluster analysis generated fifteen cluster profiles for the cohort living with MND and seven cluster profiles for carers. The variability and potential significance of patterns of health literacy strengths and challenges within the MND community are described. There was extensive diversity within the sampled population, with a mix of sociodemographic backgrounds across each cluster profile.

conclusionsThe health literacy cluster profiles created from this study provide insight into the full spectrum of where the challenges and strengths exist for individuals and subgroups of people managing this fatal disease. The results from this study pave the way for generating system wide interventions that address health literacy diversity, to create more enabling health care environments for all those affected by MND.

Indexed as

Health LiteracyMotor Neuron DiseaseAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAustraliaCaregiversCluster AnalysisFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesAmyotrophic lateral sclerosisCo-design methodologye-Health literacy questionnaireHealth literacyHealth literacy questionnaireMotor neurone disease

Identifiers

PMID40629298
PMCPMC12239372

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.