Factors Associated with Source Selection for Health Information Seeking among University Students: Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tesfahun Melese Yilma ◽  
Anushia Inthiran ◽  
Daniel Reidpath ◽  
Sylvester Olubolu Orimaye
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
University Students ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Perceived Health Status ◽  
Perceived Severity ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Health Literacy Level ◽  
Literacy Level

BACKGROUND Knowledge and skill gaps exist among people from developing and developed countries when locating and using health information. These gaps can be minimized through improved awareness of health information sources. OBJECTIVE This research study aims to assess the preferred source of health information used by university students from developing countries. METHODS A web-based survey is used as a data collection tool to gather information from a sample of 901 undergraduate students. Binary logistic regression analysis method is used to identify factors associated with sources of health information. RESULTS Results reveal that the Internet (82.8%) and television/radio (41.4%) are the primary source of health information among students from Malaysia and Ethiopia, respectively. Higher health literacy level (p = 0.04), higher perceived severity of health problems (p-value = 0.04), and poor perceived health status (p = 0.03) have a positive effect on the choice of the Internet as a primary source of health information. In addition, limited health literacy level (p = 0.03) contributed to the use of television/radio as the primary source of health information. CONCLUSIONS The Internet and television or radio are used as the primary source of health information by university students. Health literacy, perceived severity of health problems, and perceived health status are found to affect the use of the Internet as a primary source of health information. Results could help health promoters to pass their health messages via the source that university students prefer.

Factors Associated With Health Literacy and Medication Adherence in an Urban Community

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 604-612
Author(s):  
Salome Bwayo Weaver ◽  
Mary Maneno ◽  
Prince Chijioke ◽  
Debbynie Barsh ◽  
Rachel Mayaka
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Medication Adherence ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
School Health ◽  
Education Level ◽  
School Level ◽  
High School Level ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Health Literacy Level ◽  
Literacy Level

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study is to determine factors associated with health literacy and medication adherence in an urban community. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess factors associated with health literacy and medication adherence. Participants were recruited from October 2012 to April 2013. SETTING: Ambulatory care clinic and senior wellness center. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were eligible if they were older than 18 years of age and had received care at the ambulatory clinic or obtained services at the senior wellness center. INTERVENTIONS: REALM survey and the Morisky 8-Item Medication Adherence Questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The two outcomes evaluated in this study were health literacy and medication adherence. RESULTS: A total of 51 participants were enrolled in the study. Twenty-seven (53%) of the participants were noted to be nonadherent to their medications. Twenty (74%) of these participants read below the high school level, and the remaining 7 (26%) read above a high school level. Study findings showed that both education level and comorbidities status were associated with health literacy. Participants who had a below high school education level had greater odds of having a below high school health literacy level (odds ratio [OR] = 7.500, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.482-37.949). Participants who had two or more comorbidities had greater odds of having a below high school health literacy level (OR = 24.889, 95% CI 2.698-229.610). CONCLUSION: Our study results found associations between both comorbidities and education with health literacy.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Need to Address Digital Literacy Among Hospitalized Patients: Cross-Sectional Observational Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Vollbrecht ◽  
Vineet Arora ◽  
Sebastian Otero ◽  
Kyle Carey ◽  
David Meltzer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Hospitalized Patients ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Technology Access ◽  
Adequate Health Literacy ◽  
Gender And Education ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Health Literacy Level ◽  
Literacy Level

BACKGROUND Technology is a potentially powerful tool to assist patients with transitions of care during and after hospitalization. Patients with low health literacy who are predisposed to poor health outcomes are particularly poised to benefit from such interventions. However, this population may lack the ability to effectively engage with technology. Although prior research studied the role of health literacy in technology access/use among outpatients, hospitalized patient populations have not been investigated in this context. Further, with the rapid uptake of technology, access may no longer be pertinent, and differences in technological capabilities may drive the current digital divide. Thus, characterizing the digital literacy of hospitalized patients across health literacy levels is paramount. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine the relationship between health literacy level and technological access, use, and capability among hospitalized patients. METHODS Adult inpatients completed a technology survey that asked about technology access/use and online capabilities as part of an ongoing quality of care study. Participants’ health literacy level was assessed utilizing the 3-question Brief Health Literacy Screen. Descriptive statistics, bivariate chi-squared analyses, and multivariate logistic regression analyses (adjusting for age, race, gender, and education level) were performed. Using Bonferroni correction for the 18 tests, the threshold <i>P</i> value for significance was &lt;.003. RESULTS Among 502 enrolled participants, the mean age was 51 years, 71.3% (358/502) were African American, half (265/502, 52.8%) were female, and half (253/502, 50.4%) had at least some college education. Over one-third (191/502, 38.0%) of participants had low health literacy. The majority of participants owned devices (owned a smartphone: 116/173, 67.1% low health literacy versus 235/300, 78.3% adequate health literacy, <i>P</i>=.007) and had used the Internet previously (143/189, 75.7% low health literacy versus 281/309, 90.9% adequate health literacy, <i>P</i>&lt;.001). Participants with low health literacy were more likely to report needing help performing online tasks (133/189, 70.4% low health literacy versus 135/303, 44.6% adequate health literacy, <i>P</i>&lt;.001). In the multivariate analysis, when adjusting for age, race, gender, and education level, we found that low health literacy was not significantly associated with a lower likelihood of owning smartphones (OR: 0.8, 95% CI 0.5-1.4; <i>P</i>=.52) or using the internet ever (OR: 0.5, 95% CI 0.2-0.9; <i>P</i>=.02). However, low health literacy remained significantly associated with a higher likelihood of needing help performing any online task (OR: 2.2, 95% CI 1.3-3.6; <i>P</i>=.002). CONCLUSIONS The majority of participants with low health literacy had access to technological devices and had used the internet previously, but they were unable to perform online tasks without assistance. The barriers patients face in using online health information and other health information technology may be more related to online capabilities rather than to technology access. When designing and implementing technological tools for hospitalized patients, it is important to ensure that patients across digital literacy levels can both understand and use them.

scholarly journals Tingkat Literasi Kesehatan Pasien Diabetes Mellitus Tipe 2 Di Puskesmas Kota Tomohon

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vina Putri Patandung ◽  
Kusrini Kadar ◽  
Kadek Ayu Erika
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Critical Health Literacy ◽  
Health Literacy Level ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Literacy Level

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease with high level of complexity that requires extensive education and self-care management. The demands on individuals with T2DM are complicated by the fact that self-care often depends on printed educational materials and high health literacy skills. Every individual who needs health information and services also needs health literacy skills to find health information and services, communicating needs, respond to and using the information and obtaining health services, understanding health information, and finding realible health information and services to suit all needs, making the right decision to act. This study aims to determine the level of functional, communicative, and critical health literacy of T2DM patients at Pangolombian and Kakaskasen Public Health Centre of Tomohon City, as well as factors related to the level of health literacy. Method: Quantitative descriptive to describe the level of health literacy and correlation to see factors related to the patient's health literacy level. The sample of this study was a patient of T2DM who followed prolanis, amounted to 34 people, determined by using purposive sampling. Data were obtained by interview and using demographic characteristics questionnaire and Functional, Communicative, and Critical Health Literacy questionnaires. Result: Generally, health literacy level of T2DM patients is still low both for functional, communicative, and critical. This can happen because of various factors but the most related is the low access to health information and patient education level. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that health literacy level of T2DM patient in Tomohon city is still very low. This happened because access to health information is still less obtained by patients and also their education level is still low. These results can be used as recommendations for health workers to pay more attention to how to educate patients who should be adjusted to the level of education so that the information provided can be put to good use by the patient.

Factors Associated With Health Literacy and Medication Adherence in an Urban Community

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 604-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salome Bwayo Weaver ◽  
Mary Maneno ◽  
Prince Chijioke ◽  
Debbynie Barsh ◽  
Rachel Mayaka
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Medication Adherence ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
School Health ◽  
Education Level ◽  
School Level ◽  
High School Level ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Health Literacy Level ◽  
Literacy Level

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study is to determine factors associated with health literacy and medication adherence in an urban community. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess factors associated with health literacy and medication adherence. Participants were recruited from October 2012 to April 2013. SETTING: Ambulatory care clinic and senior wellness center. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were eligible if they were older than 18 years of age and had received care at the ambulatory clinic or obtained services at the senior wellness center. INTERVENTIONS: REALM survey and the Morisky 8-Item Medication Adherence Questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The two outcomes evaluated in this study were health literacy and medication adherence. RESULTS: A total of 51 participants were enrolled in the study. Twenty-seven (53%) of the participants were noted to be nonadherent to their medications. Twenty (74%) of these participants read below the high school level, and the remaining 7 (26%) read above a high school level. Study findings showed that both education level and comorbidities status were associated with health literacy. Participants who had a below high school education level had greater odds of having a below high school health literacy level (odds ratio [OR] = 7.500, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.482-37.949). Participants who had two or more comorbidities had greater odds of having a below high school health literacy level (OR = 24.889, 95% CI 2.698-229.610). CONCLUSION: Our study results found associations between both comorbidities and education with health literacy.

Promoting Health Literacy in Global Health Care

2017 ◽  
pp. 485-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kijpokin Kasemsap
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Health Communication ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Health Literacy Level ◽  
Global Health Care ◽  
Literacy Level

This chapter emphasizes the prospect of health literacy; the evaluation of health literacy level; health literacy and health communication; health literacy and health information; and the current issues of health literacy in global health care. Good health literacy is important because patients are living longer and experiencing a wider range of health issues. Health professionals must commit to promoting for improved health literacy in health care organizations and should establish the specific health care goals toward improving health literacy in strategic plans, performance plans, programs, and educational initiatives. Health professionals can utilize a broad range of health communication strategies to ensure patients understand their options and share their health care decisions. Through health education and training, effective health information can help promote patients' health literacy level in global health care.

Promoting Health Literacy in Global Health Care

2016 ◽  
pp. 242-263
Author(s):  
Kijpokin Kasemsap
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Health Communication ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Health Literacy Level ◽  
Global Health Care ◽  
Literacy Level

This chapter emphasizes the prospect of health literacy; the evaluation of health literacy level; health literacy and health communication; health literacy and health information; and the current issues of health literacy in global health care. Good health literacy is important because patients are living longer and experiencing a wider range of health issues. Health professionals must commit to promoting for improved health literacy in health care organizations and should establish the specific health care goals toward improving health literacy in strategic plans, performance plans, programs, and educational initiatives. Health professionals can utilize a broad range of health communication strategies to ensure patients understand their options and share their health care decisions. Through health education and training, effective health information can help promote patients' health literacy level in global health care.

scholarly journals Faktor-Faktor Yang Berhubungan Dengan Tingkat Literasi Kesehatan Pasien Pelayanan Kedokteran Keluarga

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 681-692
Author(s):  
Karina Samaria Santosa ◽  
Hadi Pratomo
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Family Medicine ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Hypothesis Test ◽  
Information Access ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Health Literacy Level ◽  
Literacy Level

ABSTRACT Introduction: Health literacy is crucial for health management, but still has become a problem in many countries. The objective of this study was to assess patient’s health literacy levels in Kiara Family Medicine Clinic of the Medical Faculty University of Indonesia and its determinants. Method: This was quantitative research with cross- sectional design. The population was all patients visiting the clinic during the data collection period. The samples were patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, chosen with consecutive sampling technique. Minimal sample size was counted using different proportion hypothesis test formula, results in minimum of 134 respondents. The independent variables were age, language, ethnicity, sex, level of education, length of education, occupation, income, access to health services, and health information access. The dependent variable was levels of health literacy.The instruments were questionnaires on health literacy determinats and Newest Vital Sign adapted in bahasa Indonesia (NVS-I). Univariate, bivariate (chi-square test), and multivariate (logistic regression) analyses were conducted. Results: 27.4% of respondents had high health literacy level and 72.6% of respondents had low health literacy level. Factors associated with health literacy levels were health information access and length of education. The most dominant influencing factor of health literacy was accessibility to health information. Conclusion: Most of the patients had low health literacy level with NVS-I measurement. The factor most associated with health literacy level was health information access. More efforts are needed in promoting patient’s health literacy through improving health information access. Keywords: family medicine, health information access, health literacy

scholarly journals Evaluating the Need to Address Digital Literacy Among Hospitalized Patients: Cross-Sectional Observational Study

10.2196/17519 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. e17519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Vollbrecht ◽  
Vineet Arora ◽  
Sebastian Otero ◽  
Kyle Carey ◽  
David Meltzer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Hospitalized Patients ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Technology Access ◽  
Adequate Health Literacy ◽  
Gender And Education ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Health Literacy Level ◽  
Literacy Level

Background Technology is a potentially powerful tool to assist patients with transitions of care during and after hospitalization. Patients with low health literacy who are predisposed to poor health outcomes are particularly poised to benefit from such interventions. However, this population may lack the ability to effectively engage with technology. Although prior research studied the role of health literacy in technology access/use among outpatients, hospitalized patient populations have not been investigated in this context. Further, with the rapid uptake of technology, access may no longer be pertinent, and differences in technological capabilities may drive the current digital divide. Thus, characterizing the digital literacy of hospitalized patients across health literacy levels is paramount. Objective We sought to determine the relationship between health literacy level and technological access, use, and capability among hospitalized patients. Methods Adult inpatients completed a technology survey that asked about technology access/use and online capabilities as part of an ongoing quality of care study. Participants’ health literacy level was assessed utilizing the 3-question Brief Health Literacy Screen. Descriptive statistics, bivariate chi-squared analyses, and multivariate logistic regression analyses (adjusting for age, race, gender, and education level) were performed. Using Bonferroni correction for the 18 tests, the threshold P value for significance was <.003. Results Among 502 enrolled participants, the mean age was 51 years, 71.3% (358/502) were African American, half (265/502, 52.8%) were female, and half (253/502, 50.4%) had at least some college education. Over one-third (191/502, 38.0%) of participants had low health literacy. The majority of participants owned devices (owned a smartphone: 116/173, 67.1% low health literacy versus 235/300, 78.3% adequate health literacy, P=.007) and had used the Internet previously (143/189, 75.7% low health literacy versus 281/309, 90.9% adequate health literacy, P<.001). Participants with low health literacy were more likely to report needing help performing online tasks (133/189, 70.4% low health literacy versus 135/303, 44.6% adequate health literacy, P<.001). In the multivariate analysis, when adjusting for age, race, gender, and education level, we found that low health literacy was not significantly associated with a lower likelihood of owning smartphones (OR: 0.8, 95% CI 0.5-1.4; P=.52) or using the internet ever (OR: 0.5, 95% CI 0.2-0.9; P=.02). However, low health literacy remained significantly associated with a higher likelihood of needing help performing any online task (OR: 2.2, 95% CI 1.3-3.6; P=.002). Conclusions The majority of participants with low health literacy had access to technological devices and had used the internet previously, but they were unable to perform online tasks without assistance. The barriers patients face in using online health information and other health information technology may be more related to online capabilities rather than to technology access. When designing and implementing technological tools for hospitalized patients, it is important to ensure that patients across digital literacy levels can both understand and use them.

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