Table 1.

Summary of studies included in analysis

Authors	Year of study	Surgical specialty	Number inadequate health literacy/total subjects	Health literacy instrument	Study design	Intervention	Outcome	Newcastle-Ottawa scalea or modified Jadad scoreb
Chu et al. [34]	2013	Orthopedic	86/144	REALM	Case–control	None	Medical information comprehension	4a
Otal et al. [35]	2012	Pediatrics	30/79	Newest Vital Sign	Cross-sectional	None	Satisfaction with information	3a
Zite et al. [36]	2011	Gynecology	102/201	Chew’s screening items	Randomized controlled trial	Low literacy consent form	Consent form comprehension	3b
Choi et al. [37]	2011	Orthopedics	15/15	S-TOHFLA	Focus groups	Pictograph based discharge instructions	None	-
Beitler et al. [38]	2010	Ear Nose and Throat	3/8	S-TOHFLA	Cross-sectional	None	None	3a
Wallace et al. [39]	2009	Vascular	70/152	REALM	Cross-sectional	None	None	3a
Grubbs et al. [40]	2009	Transplant	14/62	TOHFLA	Cohort	None	Access to kidney transplant	5a
Gordon et al. [41]	2009	Transplant	6/124	S-TOHFLA/REALM-T	Cross-sectional	None	Kidney function	58
Chew et al. [42]	2004	All ambulatory surgeries	40/332	S-TOHFLA	Cohort	None	Adherence to preoperative instructions	5a
Conlin et al. [43]	2002	Heart Surgery	6/30	REALM	Cross-sectional	None	Discharge Instruction comprehension	3a

^aNewcastle-Ottawa scale

^bJadad score