Sample Characteristics

We interviewed 681 attendees at OLS. Table 2 presents participant characteristics by ACA knowledge (know some, a fair amount, or a great deal vs. know nothing or very little). Almost 70% of participants knew nothing or very little about the ACA. The majority of the interviews were conducted in Spanish with only 26% conducted in English. Participants were overwhelmingly of Hispanic or Latino origin (99%) and female (80%). Almost three- quarters were foreign-born, primarily in Mexico. Low educational attainment and poverty were characteristic of the population served at OLS with only half having a high school degree or its equivalent and 84% reporting annual household incomes below $20,000. Lack of healthcare coverage represented a serious problem among participants with 88% being uninsured. More than half (57%) reported fair or poor health and 17% had a diabetes diagnosis. Two-thirds did not have a political affiliation. The average age was 39 years. eHEALS scores ranged from 8 to 40 with an average score of 21. Knowing nothing or very little about the ACA was associated with speaking Spanish, being foreign-born, not having a high school degree, reporting an annual household income below $20,000, being uninsured, having fair or poor health, having inadequate health literacy, and not being affiliated with a political party. No or little ACA knowledge was also associated with older age and lower levels of eHealth literacy.