scholarly journals Health literacy: a cross-disciplinary study in American undergraduate college students

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Joseph ◽  
Samantha Fernandes ◽  
Lauri Hyers ◽  
Kerri O'Brien
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Vital Sign ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Sign Test ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Newest Vital Sign ◽  
Undergraduate College Students

Our research aims to assess the health literacy of undergraduate college students. Past research on the health literacy of undergraduate students has revealed some gaps in the undergraduate health literacy. In this study, we employed the Newest Vital Sign Test to measure health literacy. We interviewed 235 undergraduate students from health majors (nursing and other health) and non-health majors. We hypothesised that due to the specificity of a health-related curriculum, nursing and other health-related majors would score higher in health literacy than non-health-related majors, and that nursing majors in particular would score higher than other health-related majors and non-health-related majors. We found support for our hypothesis, as nursing majors had a mean score of 3.57, while health and non-health majors had a mean score of 3.24 and 2.88 respectively when assessing their health literacy levels. We discuss our results with regard to the strategies for improving health literacy skills.

scholarly journals Limited Health Literacy in Portugal Assessed with the Newest Vital Sign

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dagmara Paiva ◽  
Susana Silva ◽  
Milton Severo ◽  
Pedro Moura-Ferreira ◽  
Nuno Lunet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Vital Sign ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Portuguese Population ◽  
Limited Health Literacy ◽  
Sociodemographic Correlates ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Newest Vital Sign ◽  
Limited Health ◽  
Related Occupation

Introduction: In Portugal, health literacy has started to be addressed through national policies, but research on the topic is still scarce. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of limited health literacy in Portugal using an existing health literacy instrument, the Newest Vital Sign.Materials and Methods: Following cross-cultural adaptation of the instrument, a sample of 249 participants was evaluated to assess reliability and construct validity of the Newest Vital Sign; the latter was tested assuming physicians would score highest, followed by health researchers, then by engineering researchers and finally by laypersons from the general population. We applied this validated version in a representative sample of 1544 Portuguese-speaking residents in Portugal aged between 16 and 79 years and quantified the associations between limited health literacy and sociodemographic characteristics.Results: The instrument showed high reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.85). Health-related occupation showed association with higher scores in the Newest Vital Sign (p trend < 0.001). The prevalence of limited health literacy in the Portuguese population was 72.9% (95% CI: 69.4 - 76.4). We found no differences between men and women, but persons with limited health literacy were significantly older (p < 0.001) and less educated (p < 0.001).Discussion: The burden of limited health literacy in Portugal is higher than that in other European countries. It should drive a universal precautions approach to health communication at all levels of the health system.Conclusion: We validated a brief and simple instrument and estimated the prevalence of limited health literacy in the literate Portuguese population at roughly three out of four people.

scholarly journals Health literacy and digital media use: Assessing the Health Literacy Skills Instrument – Short Form and its correlates among African American college students

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 205520761877076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith E. Rosenbaum ◽  
Benjamin K. Johnson ◽  
Amber E. Deane
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
African American ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
African American College Students ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Media

Improving health literacy is increasingly seen as a solution to health problems and inequalities. This study assesses how one of the more recent measures of health literacy, the Health Literacy Skills Instrument – Short Form, performs among African American college students, and ascertains if and how media use relates to health literacy. Results indicate that both the use of health-related websites and apps as well as overall time spent with the media were positively, but conditionally, linked to health literacy. However, findings also pointed to the need for further test development.

scholarly journals Health Literacy of a Sample of Portuguese Elderly

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Veiga ◽  
Carla Serrão
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Vital Sign ◽  
General Health ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Sign Test ◽  
Health State ◽  
Newest Vital Sign

AbstractThis article presents the results of a study developed within the scope of the Project Health Literacy: a challenge in and for the elderly, funded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. It tried to evaluate the metric qualities of the Newest Vital Sign Test (NVS, Copyright © Pfizer Inc.) applied to elderly; evaluate the degree of health literacy of a sample of elderly Portuguese people; get to know the association between the degree of health literacy and some sociodemographic features, the general health state, and quality of life. It was conducted a quantitative study with 433 adults over 65 years of age, mostly female, and with heterogeneous levels of education. The instrument used was a battery of tests in order to assess the degree of health literacy (Newest Vital Sign), and the quality of life (WHOQOL). The NVS proved to be a reliable and sensitive to changes due to various demographic characteristics instrument. The results indicate that the majority of the participants (80%) showed a level of low health literacy, meaning that only 20% of respondents will be able to interpret and use effectively information related with health. Gender, educational attainment, age and marital status, as well as the perception of the elderly on their general health state and quality of life, proved to be variables that affect significantly the level of health literacy of participants. These results point to the urgent need to enhance health literacy in the elderly population, in general, and among the most vulnerable groups, in particular.

scholarly journals Az egészségértés gyakorlati mérése Magyarországon és nemzetközi összehasonlításban

2016 ◽  
Vol 157 (50) ◽  
pp. 2002-2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Júlia Koltai ◽  
Eszter Kun
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Vital Sign ◽  
Comparison Method ◽  
Sign Test ◽  
Daily Routine ◽  
International Context ◽  
Hungarian Society ◽  
Reported Health ◽  
Newest Vital Sign ◽  
National Representative Sample

Introduction: The study presents results of an innovative measurement of practical health literacy in international context. Aim: To show the level of practical health literacy in the Hungarian society and in international comparison. Method: We measured practical health literacy with Newest Vital Sign test on a Hungarian national representative sample, asked from 1008 persons, between May and June, 2015 from population 16 years or older, using methodological standards of Eurobarometer. The sample is representative to the above mentioned population by gender, age, region and settlement-size. Results: Based on Newest Vital Sign test, members of the Hungarian society have good practical health literacy. The accomplishment is inconsistent with self-reported health literacy, since it shows weak results. Conclusions: As low level of self-reported health literacy implies that respondents don’t have daily routine in practicing their skills, we could draw people’s attention to food-information, that are important and show, how to utilize them. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(50), 2002–2006.

Patients' Perceptions of Screening for Health Literacy: Reactions to the Newest Vital Sign

2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 402-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan B. VanGeest ◽  
Verna L. Welch ◽  
Saul J. Weiner
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Vital Sign ◽  
Newest Vital Sign

scholarly journals Quick screen of patients' numeracy and document literacy skills: the factor structure of the Newest Vital Sign

2018 ◽  
Vol Volume 12 ◽  
pp. 853-859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yen-Ming Huang ◽  
Olayinka O Shiyanbola ◽  
Paul D Smith ◽  
Hsun-Yu Chan
Keyword(s):  
Factor Structure ◽  
Vital Sign ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Newest Vital Sign ◽  
Document Literacy

scholarly journals Using Market Research to Characterize College Students and Identify Potential Targets for Influencing Health Behaviors

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 41-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla J. Berg ◽  
Pamela M. Ling ◽  
Hongfei Guo ◽  
Michael Windle ◽  
Janet L. Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Binge Drinking ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Market Research ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Health Campaigns ◽  
Market Segments ◽  
Message Testing ◽  
Health Related

Marketing campaigns, such as those developed by the tobacco industry, are based on market research, which defines segments of a population by assessing psychographic characteristics (i.e., attitudes, interests). This study uses a similar approach to define market segments of college smokers, to examine differences in their health behaviors (smoking, drinking, binge drinking, exercise, diet), and to determine the validity of these segments. A total of 2,265 undergraduate students aged 18–25 years completed a 108-item online survey in fall 2008 assessing demographic, psychographic (i.e., attitudes, interests), and health-related variables. Among the 753 students reporting past 30-day smoking, cluster analysis was conducted using 21 psychographic questions and identified three market segments – Stoic Individualists, Responsible Traditionalists, and Thrill-Seeking Socializers. We found that segment membership was related to frequency of alcohol use, binge drinking, and limiting dietary fat. We then developed three messages targeting each segment and conducted message testing to validate the segments on a subset of 73 smokers representing each segment in spring 2009. As hypothesized, each segment indicated greater relevance and salience for their respective message. These findings indicate that identifying qualitatively different subgroups of young adults through market research may inform the development of engaging interventions and health campaigns targeting college students.

Health Literacy: A Brief Primer for the Otolaryngologist

2016 ◽  
Vol 156 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uchechukwu C. Megwalu
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
Vital Sign ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Health Care Environment ◽  
Care Environment ◽  
Newest Vital Sign

Health literacy has been shown to affect outcomes in a number of medical conditions. Despite the complexity of care that is often required among otolaryngology patients, the literature on health literacy in this field is sparse. Otolaryngologists need to be aware of issues related to health literacy due to the changing health care environment. The increased complexity of medical care, the greater involvement of patients in shared decision making, and the higher administrative burden on patients have increased their health literacy requirements. Assessing health literacy in clinical practice may help identify patients who might require additional help in navigating the health care system. The Brief Health Literacy Screen and the Newest Vital Sign are 2 measures that are easy to apply in clinical practice.

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