Improving health information to address low health literacy for patients with multimorbidity

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 481
Author(s):  
Rebecca L. Jessup ◽  
Polina Putrik ◽  
Alison Beauchamp
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Letter To The Editor ◽  
Low Health Literacy

A letter to the editor in response to the recently published article by Hill and Sofra (AHR, vol. 42, no. 2, pp. 134–9) on improving health information.

scholarly journals Utility of medicines information leaflets in hypertensive care in a setting with low health literacy: A cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 239920262091003
Author(s):  
Mtungwazi Kudzinesta ◽  
Mwangana Mubita ◽  
Francis Kalemeera ◽  
Brian Godman ◽  
Ester Hango ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medication Adherence ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Public Health Care ◽  
Hypertensive Patients ◽  
Information Leaflets ◽  
Medicines Information ◽  
Low Health Literacy

Introduction: Higher levels of health literacy improve utilization of health information, medication adherence and outcomes. Few studies evaluate the utility of medicines information in hypertensive care in settings with low health literacy. Aim: To determine the level of health literacy and utility of medicines information leaflets (MILs) among hypertensive patients in public health care in Namibia. Methods: A hospital-based survey among hypertensive patients receiving care at a referral hospital in Namibia from the 8 June 2018 to 29 June 2018. Patient’s health literacy and utility of MIL were assessed using three literacy tools and a survey questionnaire. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative thematic content analysis for factors associate with the utility of the MIL. Results: Of the 139 patients, 63% were female and the mean age was 45.7 (range: 19.0–84.0) years. Over 85.6% had of low literacy skills (Rapid Estimate of Literacy in Medicine (REALM) score <44, that is, unable to read simple health materials), 38.8% had positive Single Item Literacy Screener (SILS) scores (⩾2, require help to read medicines information) and 66.9% had inadequate skills for comprehension, appraisal and decision-making with regard to health information (Health Literacy Skills Instrument-Short Form (HLSI-SF) score <70%). The level of access to and utility of MIL were low, 32.4% and 34.6%, respectively. The main factors associated with poor utility of the MIL were low patient health literacy, lack of guidelines on the use of MIL and MIL written in non-native languages. Conclusion: Low rates of health literacy and utility of MIL were observed among hypertensive patients in Namibia. The integration of health literacy programmes, and MIL guidelines are needed to promote utility of medicine information and improve medication adherence.

Health Information Preferences of Parents in a Pediatric Emergency Department

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 519-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam M. Drent ◽  
David C. Brousseau ◽  
Andrea K. Morrison
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Pediatric Emergency ◽  
General Information ◽  
Education Material ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Health Literacy Level

Parents of children seeking nonurgent care in the emergency department completed surveys concerning media use and preferences for health education material. Results were compiled using descriptive statistics, compared by health literacy level with logistic regression, adjusting for race/ethnicity and income. Semistructured qualitative interviews to elicit reasons for preferences, content preference, and impact of health information were conducted and analyzed using content analysis. Surveys (n = 71) showed that despite equal access to online health information, parents with low health literacy were more likely to use the internet less frequently than daily ( P < .01). Surveys and interviews (n = 30) revealed that health information will be most effective when distributed by a health care professional and must be made available in multiple modalities. Parents requested general information about childhood illness, including diagnosis, treatment, and signs and symptoms. Many parents believed that appropriate health information would change their decision-making regarding seeking care during their child’s next illness.

scholarly journals Low-Level Evidence Suggests that Perceived Ability to Evaluate and Trust Online Health Information is Associated with Low Health Literacy

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 183
Author(s):  
Lindsay Alcock
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Evaluation Criteria ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Evaluative Criteria ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
The Impact

Objective – To review, based on research evidence, the correlation between low health literacy and four outcomes of interest: (1) the ability to evaluate online health information based on (2) perceived reliability and accuracy, (3) trust in the Internet as an information source, and (4) the application of established evaluation criteria. Design – Systematic review and narrative synthesis. Setting –MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Communication and Mass-media Complete as well as articles discovered through the snowball method. Subjects – 38 studies identified through a systematic literature search. Methods – An exhaustive list of potential articles was gathered through searching five online databases and Google Scholar, and hand searching of references. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied in a two-phase screening process in which two researchers participated to address reliability. Data, including study characteristics and metadata, predictors, assessment methods, and outcomes, were extracted from relevant studies, and then synthesized narratively. Main Results – Following duplication removal 13,632 records were retrieved, 254 of which were identified for full-text assessment. Thirty-eight studies met the eligibility criteria. All studies were non-experimental and therefore graded as a low level of evidence; 35 were cross-sectional designs, 1 a focus group, and 2 were observational studies. Studies varied widely in population definition and sample size and were published between 2001 and 2013, primarily in North America. Overall, a positive association was identified between health literacy and outcomes related to the ability to evaluate or trust Internet health information, while findings were inconsistent related to perceived quality of information and the application of evaluative criteria. Four studies examined the impact of health literacy levels on one or more of the outcomes of interest. The most prevalent outcome measure studied was trust in online health information, and the least prevalent was the use of evaluative criteria. The ability to trust online health information was assessed primarily through self-reporting, half of which utilized the eHealth Literacy scale, the majority of which indicated a positive correlation between education level or low health literacy and the perceived or actual ability to evaluate online health information. No studies on perceived information quality were found to utilize health literacy as an indicator. A positive association between educational level and trust in health information on the Internet was reported in ten studies, while two articles noted a similar correlation based on proxies for health literacy, including English language proficiency and comprehension comfort. In terms of the use of evaluation criteria, only one study focused on health literacy, indicating that those with low health literacy evaluate online health information based on search result placement, celebrity endorsement, image quality, and site authorship, and that they trust university researchers more than government or religious authorities to provide health information. No association was shown between readability or physician-provided online information and evaluation criteria while one study demonstrated that study participants with higher education tended to check author credentials more often when evaluating a website. Conclusion – Effective and informed evaluation of online health information is impacted by low health literacy.

Health Literacy and Medication Literacy in Saudi Arabia: Current Status

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Rasha A. Almubark ◽  
Mada Basyouni ◽  
Ashjan Alghanem ◽  
Amani S. Alqahtani ◽  
Nasser F. BinDhim
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Common Source ◽  
Web Pages ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Low Health Literacy

Background: Low health literacy and medication literacy can be associated with adverse medication-related events. The objectives of this research were to characterize medication use, describe health information sources, and characterize medication literacy in the KSA population. Methods: A cross-sectional nationwide survey was conducted among Saudi residents aged 18 years or above. Results: A total of 3,557 surveys were available for analysis (men = 1,811 and women = 1,746). Respondents were concentrated in younger categories, and each region was represented by 7% to 8% of respondents by design. Twenty-three percent of respondents (n = 825) reported having at least one chronic disease. A total of 1,882 (53%) of respondents reported ever looking for health information; of those, web pages were the most popular information sources. Among those taking medication for chronic disease, only 61% agreed that they knew how their medication should be monitored, 51% agreed that they knew what to do if they missed a dose, and 50% agreed that they knew their drug's side effects. Conclusion: This study's results suggest that interventions focused on medication literacy and tailored to prevalent chronic disease groups should be explored. Because the most common source of health information is web pages, interventions to improve overall health information literacy, especially pertaining to online medication information, should be studied.

Integrative Nursing and Health Literacy

2014 ◽  
pp. 445-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonnie L. Westra ◽  
Elizabeth Fine Weinfurter ◽  
Connie W. Delaney
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Reading Skills ◽  
Health Decisions ◽  
Basic Health ◽  
Multiple Resources ◽  
Costs Of Care ◽  
Low Health Literacy

Health literacy is the degree to which an individual has the capacity to obtain, communicate, process, and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions. Health literacy is a complex multidimensional issue and involves more than reading skills. Low health literacy is associated with poorer health outcomes and higher costs of care. In this chapter, definitions of health literacy dimensions and methods to assessment and interventions to address these are discussed. Multiple resources are included for improving health literacy.

Pilot Study of Online Information Seeking Behaviors of Low Literacy Latina Breast Cancer Survivors (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Iacobelli ◽  
Ginger Dragon ◽  
Giselle Mazur ◽  
Judy Guitelman
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Internet Searching ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Individual Article ◽  
Search Behaviors

BACKGROUND Internet searching has become an increasingly useful tool for seeking health information. However, it is largely textual in nature and written for high literacy populations. Therefore, low literacy and low health literacy Latinas are at a disadvantage in terms of searching online as well as processing online resources. Internet searching presents a problem, as low literacy populations tend to make mistakes while typing, ending up with misleading results lists. In addition, even if an appropriate result list is displayed, Low literacy Latinas may be challenged in their ability to process the information contained in any individual article from that list. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to explore and describe the search behaviors of Latina breast cancer survivors and their caregivers. We explore their preferences in the modality of the query (voice/text), as well as other factors that present difficulties when searching for, and processing health information online. METHODS We recruited 7 Latina breast cancer survivors, of which 3 brought their caregivers, totaling 10 women. We administered the HLiTT health literacy test, a demographic survey, and a breast cancer knowledge assessment to each participant. Next, we trained the participants on searching online with either a keyboard or voice. Then, we asked participants to find information about (a) maintaining good spirits after breast cancer; (b) affordability of breast cancer treatment; (c) general information about breast cancer and treatment options; and (d) any lingering issues they had around survivorship. Participants were allowed to search in English and/or Spanish. We video and audio recorded the computer activity of each participant/patient-caregiver (dyad) and coded it for search behaviors. RESULTS We found that there was a significant positive correlation between participants’ HLiTT scores, and the time spent on articles (R=0.78, P=0.04). We also found a strong, but non-significant correlation between highest educational level and reading aloud (R=-0.75, P=0.089). We also found a similar correlation between HLiTT scores and the ratio of time spent perusing results vs. reading individual articles (R=-0.64, P=0.12), indicating that higher HLiTT scorers spent more of their time with individual articles, while lower HLiTT scorers spent more time perusing result lists. We also found that on average, participants attempted 6 spoken searches (SD: 4.32) and only 2.8 written searches (SD: 3.48). However, in debriefing interviews they stated a preference for voice searches. CONCLUSIONS Health literacy, more so than educational level attained, may be highly correlated with an individual’s ability to consume health information. Low health literacy individuals were more inclined to browse result lists instead of selecting or reading an individual article. We found a preference for voice searching, which may indicate a need to compensate for potential written misspellings and grammatical errors that could appear in written queries. We also found that many low literacy patients read aloud to better understand content. Understanding search behaviors and information evaluation strategies of low literacy Latina breast cancer survivors is fundamental for designing useful interfaces for them to find relevant and reliable information online. CLINICALTRIAL N/A

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document