Improving health literacy: health sciences library case studies

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 206-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean P. Shipman ◽  
Erica Lake ◽  
Alice I. Weber
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Content Type ◽  
University Of Utah ◽  
Health Fairs ◽  
Institutional Costs ◽  
Care Costs

Purpose University of Utah has created various partnerships to improve health literacy and health outcomes among patient populations, employees and community members. Health sciences librarians have been key members of these partnerships. This paper aims to describe and share several of these partnerships, including training programs, research efforts and advocacy initiatives, to encourage others to engage in similar activities. Design/methodology/approach Case studies include outreach projects and partnerships to foster health literacy and promote healthy living such as: highly visible information resource provision and associated outreach for patients and families; community health fairs; research on providing point-of-need information for vulnerable community populations; health literacy awareness and resources for professionals; health literacy education for interprofessional students; and a competition for interprofessional students to create health videos to address a variety of topics in multiple languages. Findings Partnerships and outreach efforts lead to improved awareness by institutional personnel of the importance of health literacy. Research on using health literacy to empower patients and increase patient satisfaction can demonstrate how to lower institutional costs and improve guideline compliance, as well out health outcomes. Originality/value Librarians’ instructional skills create personal health educational content for patients and professionals; engaging colleagues to address health literacy lowers health care costs, institutional costs and increases patient compliance and satisfaction.

Correcting malapropisms: strategies to bridge cultural and socioeconomic gaps

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-94
Author(s):  
Israel Berger ◽  
John A. Cartmill
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Clinician Training ◽  
Language Groups ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Socioeconomic Gaps ◽  
Written Materials

Purpose Although patients and lay people are often more knowledgeable about medical conditions than their predecessors, the dominant culture’s increased involvement in understanding their health and making treatment decisions does not translate into consistently more informed patients. High health literacy is associated with both improved health outcomes and receiving better quality-of-care. Low health literacy disproportionately affects people from marginalized ethnic and language groups. Regardless of how a particular clinician feels about a patient, malapropisms and mis-attributions may cause patients to appear less intelligent or to have lower perceived health literacy, potentially affecting their healthcare experiences with other clinicians. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This paper discusses the evidence for “up-skilling” patients and uses principles from conversation analysis to demonstrate how malapropisms can be corrected sensitively. Clinician training in skilled communication using the conversation analytic role-play method is also addressed. Findings Malapropisms are best corrected through modelling rather than calling attention to the error directly, as this allows the patient to save face. Explanations using drawings and clearly written materials may also be useful. Originality/value Helping patients to improve their communication with clinicians may lead to improved health outcomes through improved quality-of-care.

scholarly journals Interventions to improve health literacy among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Nash ◽  
Amit Arora
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Indigenous Australian ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Improve Health

Abstract Background Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to experience poorer health outcomes than other population groups. While data specific to Indigenous Australians are scarce, a known social health literacy gradient exists linking low health literacy and poor health outcomes within many minority populations. Improving health literacy among Indigenous Australians is an important way to support self-determination and autonomy in both individuals and communities, by enhancing knowledge and improving health outcomes. This review aims to rigorously examine the effectiveness of health literacy interventions targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Methods A systematic review across six databases (The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS, ProQuest Dissertation and Thesis and Web of Science) was performed for publications evaluating interventions to improve health literacy among Indigenous Australian adults using search terms identifying a range of related outcomes. Results Of 824 articles retrieved, a total of five studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in this review. The included studies evaluated the implementation of workshops, structured exercise classes and the provision of discounted fruit and vegetables to improve nutrition, modify risk factors for chronic diseases, and improve oral health literacy. All interventions reported statistically significant improvement in at least one measured outcome. However, there was limited involvement of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members in the research process and participant retention rates were sub-optimal. Conclusion There is limited evidence on interventions to improve health literacy in Indigenous Australian adults. Participation in interventions was often suboptimal and loss to follow-up was high. Future studies co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members are needed to improve health literacy in this population.

Testing the health literacy of twenty Bangladeshi patients before and 5 months after they begin to access their GP electronic record

2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. bjgp18X697133
Author(s):  
Richard Fitton ◽  
Amir Hannan ◽  
Ingrid Brindle ◽  
Shafia Begum ◽  
Sarwar Shah
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Medical History ◽  
Medical Records ◽  
Practice Nurse ◽  
Electronic Record ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Medical Histories ◽  
Memory Knowledge

BackgroundPatients with higher health literacy enjoy better health outcomes and are more compliant with treatment. Health literacy is a product of memory, reason and imagination. Patients who can access their records have potentially more memory (knowledge) and make less phone calls to and have less consultations with their GP, practice nurse, HCA and other professionals.AimThe study aims to measure the knowledge that twenty Bangladeshi patients with poor English have of their medical history before and after access to their electronic record.Method55% of patients at Thornley House have access to their medical records. A simple questionnaire was given to 20 Bangladeshi patients before and 5 months after access to their electronic record. The questionnaires recorded the patients’ knowledge of their medical histories. The scores of the completed before and after questionnaires were compared to see if record access had increased patients’ knowledge.ResultsFive patients completed before and after questionnaires. Each achieved a higher score after record access. The differences in scores for the five patients were 2, 5, 1, 10, and 1, respectively.ConclusionHealth literacy for patients is similar to medical literacy for doctors. It requires knowledge, skills and attitudes. We will see whether record access can increase knowledge. Further studies might measure whether that increased knowledge improves skills and attitudes.

scholarly journals User-driven efforts in creating knowledge graph information system

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-111
Author(s):  
Stanislava Gardasevic
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Resource Discovery ◽  
The Body ◽  
Knowledge Graph ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Study Objective ◽  
Content Type

Purpose This paper presents the results of a qualitative study that involved students of an interdisciplinary PhD program. The study objective was to gather requirements to create a knowledge graph information system. The purpose of this study was to determine information-seeking practices and information needs of this community, to inform the functionalities of a proposed system, intended to help students with relevant resource discovery and decision-making. Design/methodology/approach The study design included semi-structured interviews with eight members of the community, followed by a website usability study with the same student participants. Findings Two main information-seeking styles are recognized and reported through user personas of international and domestic (USA) students. The findings show that the useful information resides within the community and not so much on the program website. Students rely on peer communication, although they report lack of opportunities to connect. Students’ information needs and information seeking are dependent on their progress through the program, as well as their motivation and the projected timeline. Practical implications Considering the current information needs and practices, a knowledge graph hosting both information on social networks and the knowledge produced by the activities of the community members would be useful. By recording data on their activities (for example, collaboration with professors and coursework), students would reveal further useful system functionalities and facilitate transfer of tacit knowledge. Originality/value Aside from the practical value of this research that is directly influencing the design of a system, it contributes to the body of knowledge on interdisciplinary PhD programs.

scholarly journals The impact of health literacy on health outcomes in individuals with chronic pain: a cross-sectional study

Physiotherapy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 346-353
Author(s):  
Laura M. Mackey ◽  
Catherine Blake ◽  
Maire-Brid Casey ◽  
Camillus K. Power ◽  
Ray Victory ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Health literacy and health outcomes in China’s floating population: mediating effects of health service

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai-YanYu ◽  
Wei-Ling Wu ◽  
Lin-Wei Yu ◽  
Lei Wu
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Service Utilization ◽  
Health Service Utilization ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Floating Population ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Mediating Effects

Abstract Background The floating population in China consists primarily of internal immigrants and represents a typical health vulnerable group. Poor health literacy has recently become an obstacle in the accessibility and utilization of health services for the vulnerable population, leading to adverse health outcomes. This study aimed to examine whether health literacy affected health outcomes in China’s floating population and whether health service utilization had a mediating effect between health literacy and health outcomes. Method The current study utilized a cross-sectional stratified, multistage, proportional to scale (PPS) study in Zhejiang Province, China, in November and December 2019. In total, 657 valid self-reported questionnaires were recovered and used for data collection. Questionnaires included questions regarding sociodemographic characteristics, health literacy, health outcomes, and health service utilization. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test questionnaire validity; descriptive statistics were used to understand the demographic characteristics of the floating population; and structural equation modeling was used to determine whether health service utilization mediated health literacy and health outcomes. Results We report positive correlations between health literacy, health service utilization, and health outcomes. Mediation analysis demonstrated that health service utilization had partial mediating effects between health literacy and health outcomes. In the relationship between health literacy and health outcomes, the indirect effects of health service utilization accounted for 6.6–8.7% of the total effects. Conclusion Complete health literacy, through health care literacy and health promotion literacy, affects the mobile population’s initiative to use health services, which, in turn, affects health outcomes. Thus, improving the health literacy of the floating population will help to improve health outcomes. Furthermore, health service providers should enhance the diversity of health service supply to ensure that the floating population has the external resources to improve personal health literacy.

scholarly journals Relationship of patient shame to working alliance and satisfaction: a preliminary investigation

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 251-263
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Carabellese ◽  
Michael J. Proeve ◽  
Rachel M. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Working Alliance ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
External Shame ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship of two distinct variants of dispositional shame (internal and external shame) with collaborative, purpose-driven aspects of the patient–provider relationship (working alliance) and patient satisfaction. The aim of this research was to conduct a preliminary investigation into the relevance of dispositional shame in a general healthcare population. Design/methodology/approach In total, 127 community members (mean age 25.9 years) who reported that they had regularly seen a GP over the past year were recruited at an Australian university. Participants were asked to reflect on their relationship with their GP, and completed instruments assessing various domains of shame, as well as working alliance and patient satisfaction. Findings Non-parametric correlations were examined to determine the direction and strength of relationships, as well as conducting mediation analyses where applicable. Small, negative correlations were evident between external shame and working alliance. Both external and internal shame measures were also negatively correlated with patient satisfaction. Finally, the relationship of external shame to patient satisfaction was partially mediated by working alliance. Practical implications Both the reported quality of patient–provider working alliance, and level of patient satisfaction are related to levels of dispositional shame in patients, and working alliance may act as a mediator for this relationship. Originality/value The findings from this preliminary study suggest that internal and external shame are important factors to consider in the provision of medical care to maximise the quality of patient experience and working alliance.

Negotiation and corporate strategy

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 4-6
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Corporate Strategy ◽  
Organizational Strategy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Consistent Approach

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Negotiation is a key tool in delivering competitive advantage but requires a clear and consistent approach closely linked to organizational strategy. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Blending global and regional planning in multinationals

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 16-18
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Regional Planning ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Cutting Edge ◽  
Central Planning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Blending global and regional planning is important for multinationals. Within a central framework, local offices should have input. Different regions will approach this in different ways, but regional planning needs to be in-synch with central planning cycles. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists, and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

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