Health Information Literacy Outreach: Improving Health Literacy and Access to Reliable Health Information in Rural Oxford County Maine

2010 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Kurtz-Rossi ◽  
Patricia Duguay
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Literacy

A conceptual approach to practitioners’ health information literacy

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 178-190
Author(s):  
Ann Hallyburton
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Evidence Based Practice ◽  
Information Behavior ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Research Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Behaviors

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine healthcare professionals’ own health literacy through the lenses of information behavior and evidence-based practice. These practitioners’ health information literacy is critical to client care. Design/methodology/approach This conceptual paper applies general and professional-specific models of information behavior and issues of bias to methods in which healthcare practitioners seek, evaluate and use research information within professional practice. Findings Case examples from library, medical and the broader healthcare literature are used to explore ways in which care professionals’ information behaviors align with or deviate from information behavior models and the role of different types of bias in their information behavior. Adaption of evidence-based practice precepts, already familiar to healthcare professionals, is proposed as a method to improve practitioners’ health information literacy. Originality/value Explorations of “health literacy” have primarily focused on healthcare consumers’ interactions with basic health information and services. The health literacy (and health information literacy) of care practitioners has received much less attention. By gaining a greater understanding of how information behaviors intersect with healthcare practitioners’ own health literacy, the librarians and educators who serve future and current care professionals can offer more informed information literacy instruction, enabling practitioners to provide improved patient care.

scholarly journals Links between Adolescents’ Health Literacy and their Physical Activity and Body Mass Index

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (114) ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Rutkauskaitė ◽  
Konsta Kuusinen
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Organized Activities ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Sports Club ◽  
Health Related

Background. The aim of the study was to identify links between health literacy, health information literacy and physical activity as well as body mass index in adolescents.Methods. The study was carried out from September till the end of November, 2018. Research participants were 167 14–18-year-old students from Kaunas, Klaipeda and Vilnius (n = 107 females, n = 60 males). Participants were asked to fill in an anonymous online questionnaire, which consisted of basic demographics, physical activity, health information literacy and health literacy. Adolescents’ body mass index was calculated using ISO-BMI calculations. Physical activity was assessed by Petronytė’s physical activity questionnaire. To determine adolescents’ everyday health information literacy, we used self-assessed 10-item screening tool (EHIL-10) and to determine health literacy, we used Newest Vital Sign (NVS) screening test. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 23.0 program for Windows.Results. Health literacy did not have association with body mass index or the level of physical activity. Health literacy scores gave important data of the level of health literacy. The scores indicated that 21.6% of Lithuanian adolescents had adequate level of health literacy. It was found that age correlated positively with health literacy. Self-assessed everyday health information literacy was higher since 85% of the students had medium high or high level of health information literacy. The data revealed that adolescents were not sure where they could find health related information and who they could trust in health-related issues. For males, finding health information and knowing who they could trust in health issues was easier than for females. Health information literacy did not have association with ISO-BMI. Sufficient evaluation of health-related information was higher among normally weighted adolescents. Physically active students had higher health information literacy and participation in sports club activities had positive relation with better health information literacy. Additionally, involvement in organized activities associated with superior understanding of terms and sentences of health information. Evaluation of health information was higher among those who were actively involved in organized physical activities.Conclusions. Health information literacy did not have association with ISO-BMI. Those, who were involved in sports club activities or were more actively involved in organized physical activities had better health information literacy and evaluation of health information. Nevertheless, there was no connection between health literacy and physical activity. Keywords: health literacy, health information literacy, physical activity, body mass index.

Do I know that I do not know? Results of a survey on health literacy in a cohort of 414 elderly people in Italy (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaetana Cognetti ◽  
Elisabetta Poltronieri ◽  
Paola De Castro ◽  
Virginia Scarinci ◽  
Roberto Perilli
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Family Doctor ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Study Results

BACKGROUND Health literacy is widely recognised as an important social determinant of health, although it is difficult to measure it at national, regional and local level. OBJECTIVE This study aims to measure the level of health information literacy in a sample of elderly people living in the city of Pescara (Central Italy). Besides, the level of health information literacy, as an integral part of health literacy, was checked among the people surveyed. METHODS The study was conducted through a questionnaire during an eye screening in a cohort of elderly people in 2017. The targeted audience included 595 individuals (60 and over years of age); 414 questionnaires were eligible for examination. The questionnaire was organised into two sections, the first one was set up by the authors of this paper, whilst the second one was based on the European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU). RESULTS Data collected refer to the number of respondents per question, as a matter of fact not all surveyed people (414) answered to each question. Most respondents (283 out of 411) were women (69 %). The sample revealed low education level: only 9% had a degree and/or post-doc; 25% had a high school diploma, 39% attended only primary school and 27% junior high school. The family doctor was the preferred source to get information from, Internet was the less used source (22%, 91 out of 414). Most participants sought information in Italian. As regards the subject of information retrieved, the answers collected (90) highlighted that the majority of respondents looked for information on diseases in general (94%), on therapies (77%), on nutrition issues (74%), and on diagnosis (69%). A good percentage looks for information on drugs (50%) and on health facilities (44%). Most of them also declared that they easily understand what their practitioner says. Besides, they claimed they did not find any difficulty in understanding medicines’ labels and drug prescriptions, or to cope with other health conditions. CONCLUSIONS This survey addressed a homogeneous group of elderly people living in a small area of Central Italy. Most respondents declared to address family and/or specialist doctors for health information, and just a minor percentage (22%) also declared they surf the Internet, mainly through search engines, claiming to be rather satisfied with results without questioning their reliability. Most respondents declared to have an easy access and understanding of health information. Yet the study results showed that respondents were not aware of that information overload requires critical skills in order to select trusted and updated medical information. Health information literacy is difficult to measure; this survey shows the need of further investigation and the use of standardised measuring tools. It is also fundamental to promote corrective strategies, like prescription of information (Information RX) or creation of quality health portals in native languages (e.g. ISSalute) and to offer professional support (patient’s libraries or information points) for improving health literacy levels.

Information Literacy, Health Literacy, Health Information Literacy-What are they about?

2013 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 323
Author(s):  
Sangeeta Narang ◽  
B K Sen ◽  
Archana Shukla
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Literacy

A Qualitative Exploratory Study in Health Information and Health Communication Leadership in the Age of the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 27-35
Author(s):  
Delores Springs
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Public Officials ◽  
Misleading Information ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Barriers To Health

Low health literacy is a public health scourge. Health information and health literacy around COVID-19 is a miscalculated public health conundrum. Zarocostas referred to the COVID-19 not as a pandemic, but an info-demic because of the need for patients to be more health literate when they are being bombarded by inaccurate or misleading information from social media, public officials, and family. During a global pandemic, the need to understand and explore the nuances of health literacy has never been more pressing. This qualitative exploratory study uses the expertise of subject matter experts on health literacy to classify the barriers to health information literacy, the best practices for improving health information literacy, and the additional measures taken by medical providers during the COVID-19 outbreak ensure that patients have the most accurate and useful health information.

Health Literacy, Health Information Behavior Ability and Internet Information Literacy in Primiparas: Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Cun Guo ◽  
Feng Ying Zhang ◽  
Wan Luan Zhang ◽  
Yu Liang ◽  
Li Hua Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Infant Health ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Information Behavior ◽  
Maternal And Infant Health ◽  
Internet Information ◽  
And Child Health

BACKGROUND Lower maternal and infant health literacy is a public health issue that follows a social hierarchy,potentially imposing huge personal and societal health care burdens.However,levels of health literacy in primiparas can be unclear and a key to identifying its influencing factors.Emerging health information technologies provide new resources for primiparas to fill information gap. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to investigate the current status of maternal and infant health literacy in Chinese primiparas and to explore whether health information behavior ability and Internet information literacy are related to maternal and infant health literacy. METHODS The maternal and infant health literacy questionnaire is a 35-item instrument designed to measure primiparas’ basic knowledge and concept of mother and child, healthy lifestyle and basic skill status. The health information behavior ability questionnaire is a 44-item instrument designed to measure five aspects of health information behaviors of Chinese primiparas.Internet information literacy questionnaire is a 23-item instrument developed to measure Information awareness, information knowledge, information ability and information ethics of Chinese primiparas.The general questionnaire is used to collect the age, place of residence, education level, occupation, income, pre-pregnancy BMI, history of poor pregnancy and birth, whether there is an unexpected pregnancy, whether to check before pregnancy, whether there is discomfort and other demographic data and obstetrics-related conditions.386 primiparas from July 2019 to February 2020 were selected as the study objects.We used multiple regression analysis to analyze the relationship between general demographic data, maternal and child health literacy, health information behavior ability and Internet information literacy. RESULTS The health literacy of Chinese primiparas is generally lower, and the health information literacy of primiparas and Internet Information Literacy were positively and significantly correlated with Maternal and Infant health literacy.A multiple regression analysis revealed that for the women during pregnancy,the obtain aspect(OR=3.46,95%CI=1.91-3.85,P =0.001) and the evaluation aspect(OR=4.82,95%CI=1.72-3.64,P=0.011 )of HIBA,the knowledge aspect (OR =3.27,95%=1.78-4.10,P=0.008)of IIL,occupation (OR=1.55,95%CI=1.4-5.4,P=0.029),education (OR=1.17,95%=24.03-37.80,P=0.001),income (OR=2.83,95%CI=14.15-40.12，P=0.007)，and smoking and drinking (OR=2.83,95%CI=14.15=40.12，P=0.028 )were significant factors influencing the health literacy of mother and infant.The health information behavior ability plays a partial intermediary role between Internet literacy and maternal and infant health literacy. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that Chinese primiparas with higher health information behavior ability and Internet information literacy were more likely to have better maternal and child health literacy. Therefore, the corresponding individuals or departments should pay sufficient attention to the information literacy of primiparas, especially for the acquisition and evaluation of health information, and the necessary Internet knowledge.

Exploring Internet and Media-mediated Health Information within the Context of Personal Health Management

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelagh K. Genuis
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Health Management ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Étude Qualitative ◽  
Informal Information ◽  
Etude Qualitative

This qualitative paper explores how health information mediated by the internet and media is used and made valuable within the life of consumers managing non-crisis health challenges, and how informal information seeking and gathering influences self-positioning within patient-clinician relationships. Findings have implications for health information literacy and collaborative, patient-centred care.Cette étude qualitative explore comment l’information sur la santé relayée par Internet et les médias est utilisée et rendue utile dans le contexte de consommateurs gérant des problèmes médicaux non urgents, et comment la recherche et la collecte d’information informelles influencent l’auto-positionnement dans la relation patient clinicien. Les résultats ont des applications dans la maîtrise de l’information médicale et les soins collaboratifs centrés sur le patient.

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