Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42063489›Full record

ArticleJSES international2026

Low musculoskeletal health literacy is associated with inferior outcomes in total shoulder arthroplasty.

Jackson S Perry, Bradley J Lauck, Jake M Reed, Alexander D Jeffs, Stephen M Himmelberg, Robert A Creighton, Arvind S Narayanan, Ganesh M Kamath

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JSES international, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jackson S PerryDepartment of Orthopaedics, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Bradley J LauckThe University of North Carolina, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Jake M ReedThe University of North Carolina, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Alexander D JeffsDepartment of Orthopaedics, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Stephen M HimmelbergDepartment of Orthopaedics, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Robert A CreightonDepartment of Orthopaedics, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Arvind S NarayananDepartment of Orthopaedics, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Ganesh M KamathDepartment of Orthopaedics, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of musculoskeletal (MSK) health literacy on clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction following total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). We hypothesized that low MSK health literacy score would be associated with inferior clinical outcomes and lower patient satisfaction rates. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care center. Patients between 6 months and 9 years post-operative following shoulder arthroplasty, both anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty were included. All patients were treated by one of 2 sports fellowship-trained surgeons. Patients were emailed a questionnaire that included basic demographics, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) shoulder score, TSA satisfaction, and the Literacy in Musculoskeletal Problems survey. Patients were categorized as having low health literacy (LHL) if they answered fewer than 6 out of 9 questions correctly on the Literacy in Musculoskeletal Problems survey and as having normal health literacy (NHL) if they answered 6 or more questions correctly. Statistical analysis was performed to determine associations between LHL, patient characteristics, and outcomes of interest. This included multivariate logistic and linear regression models that assessed the relationship between MSK health literacy and ASES. Results: Of 734 patients emailed the survey, 310 responded, and 230 met inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. One hundred and seventy-seven patients (77%) had NHL and 53 individuals (23%) had LHL. The mean ASES score was 74.2 ± 19.8 in the NHL group and 62.9 ± 23.9 in the LHL group. Patients with LHL had significantly lower ASES scores than those with NHL ( Conclusion: Approximately one-quarter of patients undergoing TSA at our institution had LHL. Patients with LHL were found to have significantly lower patient-reported outcome scores, although rates of patient satisfaction and willingness to undergo surgery again were comparable to those with NHL. These findings highlight an association between health literacy and post-operative recovery that likely reflects the influence of broader educational and socioeconomic determinants of health. These findings should be interpreted as associative and hypothesis-generating.

Indexed as

Health disparitiesMusculoskeletal health literacyPatient reported outcomesPatient satisfactionSurvey outcomesTotal shoulder arthroplasty

Identifiers

PMID42063489
PMCPMC13126493

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