scholarly journals Equity and inclusivity in research: co-creation of a digital platform with representatives of marginalized populations to enhance the involvement in research of people with limited literacy skills

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Loignon ◽  
Sophie Dupéré ◽  
Caroline Leblanc ◽  
Karoline Truchon ◽  
Amélie Bouchard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Research ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Structural Barriers ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Major Barrier ◽  
Equity In Health ◽  
Digital Platform ◽  
Limited Literacy

AbstractTo improve health equity, as well as equity in research, community-engaged research and participatory research needs to be inclusive. Equity in health research refers to the principle that anyone affected by research or who can benefit from its outcomes should have equal opportunities to contribute to it. Many researchers advocate the importance of promoting equity in research and engage in processes that foster the research involvement of lay persons, patients, and community members who are otherwise “absent” or “silent”. Still, people with limited literacy skills who experience unwarranted structural barriers to healthcare access have little involvement in research. Low literacy is a major barrier to equity in health research. Yet there exist approaches and methods that promote the engagement in research of people with literacy challenges. Building on our previous research projects conducted with community members using participatory visual and sound methods (participatory mapping, photovoice, digital storytelling, etc.), we embarked on the co-creation of a digital platform in 2017. Our aim in this commentary is to report on this co-creation experience that was based on a social justice-oriented partnership. The development of the online platform was overseen by a steering committee made up of workers from community organizations involved with people with limited literacy skills, students, and researchers. In the development process, the co-creation steps included a literature review, informal interviews with key informants, and discussion and writing sessions about format and content. After numerous challenges raised and addressed during co-creation, the Engage digital platform for engagement in research went live in the winter of 2020. This platform presents, on an equal footing, approaches and methods from academic research as well as from the literacy education community engaged with people with limited literacy skills.

Identifying and Assisting Low-Literacy Patients with Medication Use: A Survey of Community Pharmacies

2005 ◽  
Vol 39 (9) ◽  
pp. 1441-1445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica L Praska ◽  
Sunil Kripalani ◽  
Antoinette L Seright ◽  
Terry A Jacobson
Keyword(s):  
Medication Adherence ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Functional Literacy ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Limited Literacy ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Patient Literacy ◽  
Poor Medication Adherence

BACKGROUND: Nearly one-half of adult Americans have limited functional literacy skills. Low patient literacy is associated with poor medication adherence and health outcomes. However, little is known about how pharmacies address literacy-related needs among patrons. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency with which pharmacies identify and provide appropriate assistance to patients with limited literacy skills and provide specific recommendations to help improve pharmacists' recognition of low health literacy, as well as strategies to improve adherence in this population. METHODS: Through a telephone-based survey of Atlanta-area pharmacies, we obtained information on (1%) whether the pharmacy attempted to identify patients with limited literacy skills, (2%) what measures were taken by the pharmacy to optimize the health care of low-literacy patients, especially with regard to medication adherence, and (3%) what services the pharmacy offered to improve adherence in general. RESULTS: The response rate among eligible pharmacies was 96.8% (N = 30%). Only 2 (7%) pharmacies reported attempting to identify literacy-related needs among their patrons. One of these facilities provided additional verbal counseling to assist low-literacy patients, and the other pharmacy involved family members, provided verbal counseling, and had patients repeat instructions to confirm comprehension. Most pharmacies reported availability of adherence aids that could help low-literacy patients if such patients were identified and targeted to receive additional assistance. These included verbal and written counseling (offered at 73% of pharmacies), packaging or organizing aids (27%), refill services (17%), and graphic or multimedia aids (13%). CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacies infrequently attempt to identify and assist patients with limited literacy skills.

scholarly journals Disaster Literacy

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 694-694
Author(s):  
Lisa Brown ◽  
Lindsay Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Social Marketing Campaign ◽  
Life Saving ◽  
Response And Recovery

Abstract People who plan ahead typically fare better during the response and recovery phases of a disaster. However, problems arise when the needs, wants, abilities, and resources of vulnerable people are not adequately considered. The lack of alignment between the literacy demands of existing materials and the literacy skills of many vulnerable subgroups limits their ability to understand and effectively use potentially life-saving information. Existing health literacy models that have demonstrated effectiveness in changing health behaviors and improving outcomes is a first step to reducing disaster-related morbidity and mortality in low resource and low literacy areas. This presentation will 1) describe how interdisciplinary collaborations can be used to address this public health issue, 2) explain how health literacy techniques can be applied when developing disaster materials, and 3) present research data on a social marketing campaign to improved disaster preparedness of older adults. Part of a symposium sponsored by Disasters and Older Adults Interest Group.

scholarly journals Mental health of young Brazilians: Barriers to professional help-seeking

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cláudia Cristina FUKUDA ◽  
Maria Aparecida PENSO ◽  
Deise Matos do AMPARO ◽  
Bruno Coimbras de ALMEIDA ◽  
Camila de Aquino MORAIS
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Private School ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Structural Barriers ◽  
Professional Help ◽  
Health Treatment ◽  
Major Barrier ◽  
Positive Effects

The present study investigated the perception of young Brazilians of professional help and barriers to seeking mental health services. A total of the 1,030 questionnaires were administered to young people aged 8-21 years of both genders attending public and private school or who had received or were receiving treatement at mental health facilities in three Brazilian cities. The data were evaluated using descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, and comparison between means. The results showed fear of stigmatization as a major barrier to seeking mental health treatment, exerting greater impact than that of structural barriers. Regional differences influenced their perception of the treatment. Having undergone previous mental health treatment was found to be related to a greater perception of the positive effects of the treatment and the structural barriers to accessing care services. It was found that the onset of mental disorders usually occurs during early adolescence. School-related issues, anxiety, fear, and depression were the most common reasons for mental health treatment seeking among young people.

scholarly journals Powerful Influencers: Kenyan & Zambia Religious Leaders Advocate for Family Planning

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Bormet
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Faith Communities ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Culturally Appropriate ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Family Planning Services ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
A Value ◽  
External Stakeholders

Abstract Faith-based organizations (FBOs) provide approximately 40% of healthcare in Kenya and 30% in Zambia. Promoting healthy families is a value at the heart of faith communities. This intervention focused on equipping and encouraging religious leaders (RLs), whose churches own and operate faith-based health facilities, to advocate for family planning (FP) within their congregations, communities, governments. This project included baseline assessments, FP sensitization, and media trainings. Religious leaders were trained through an adaptation of the AFP SMART training by ensuring culturally appropriate messaging for religious audiences were included (i.e. using scripture to discuss and develop messages on families, planning, having children, etc.). Training RLs provides an entree into government fora as culturally respected leaders in positions of power. In order for external advocacy to take place outside of church settings, it is crucial to identify how each church defines FP before meeting with external stakeholders. Creation of low-literacy terms in English and local languages that equipped RLs to interact with community members in-person (i.e. church services, weddings, funerals, community barazas, etc.) and via TV and radio shows was key in addressing myths and misconceptions. Eighty-six religious leaders from 16 denominations in Kenya and Zambia were engaged to sensitize communities and advocate with their Ministries of Health on behalf of the faith community to ensure family planning services reach communities. Equipping RLs in culturally and language appropriate contexts builds stronger advocates for healthy families and communities. Key messages To demonstrate how religious leaders in Kenya and Zambia are equipped to advocate for family planning from a faith perspective. Words and definitions and messengers matter in Family Planning Advocacy from a faith perspective.

scholarly journals Swallowing the Black Pill: A Qualitative Exploration of Incel Antifeminism within Digital Society

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Angus Lindsay
Keyword(s):  
Critical Literacy ◽  
Hate Speech ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Caste System ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Structural Determinants ◽  
Mass Violence ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Gender Based

<p>This thesis explores the online ‘manosphere’ subculture of Involuntary Celibates (Incels). Incels have been widely discussed in contemporary media in recent years and have been cited as harmful after several mass-murders and attacks have taken place offline. Previous academic research has largely focused on individual-level explanations for Incel mass-murderers, with few studies seeking to uncover the structural determinants of the rise of Incels. This thesis attempts to fill this gap, exploring the subculture’s negotiation with the changing features of contemporary society. The study utilised internet-based qualitative research methods over a period of three-months to collect data on two Incel forums: r/Braincels and Incels.co. The data was then interpreted through thematic analysis within a constructivist grounded theory approach. The research found that Incels negotiate their anxieties of a rapidly changing globalised world with a sense of victimisation and ‘aggrieved entitlement’ through a worldview that understands society as set up to economically, socially, and sexually favour women. It was also found that through such a sense of entitlement, Incels conceive of a hetero-patriarchal racial caste-system that relies on uncritical readings of selected biological and evolutionary psychological studies. This worldview is known as the ‘Black Pill’ and is employed to ideologically condition Incels against out-groups. Through a shared mythology of victimisation, the Incel ideology of the Black Pill functions to produce a form of ‘stochastic terrorism’ in which individual users interpret the spectrum of beliefs from enacting online gender-based hate-speech to mass violence in the terrestrial world. This thesis presents understandings that could inform future educational programs in critical literacy skills that aim to dismantle the conceptual apparatus that feeds the ideologically charged hatred of groups like Incels.</p>

Development of a Curriculum to Lower Dietary Fat Intake in a Multiethnic Population with Low Literacy Skills

1997 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 215-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl L. Albright ◽  
Bonnie Bruce ◽  
Beth Howard-Pitney ◽  
Marilyn A. Winkleby ◽  
Stephen P. Fortmann
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Fat ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Fat Intake ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Dietary Fat Intake ◽  
Multiethnic Population

Mural Painting to Collect Sensitizing Data and Encourage Research Participation Among U.S. Latinos

2021 ◽  
pp. 152483992110389
Author(s):  
Adrienne Martinez-Hollingsworth ◽  
Jacqueline Hernández ◽  
Cristina Edwards ◽  
Keosha Partlow
Keyword(s):  
Academic Research ◽  
Research Participation ◽  
The United States ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mural Painting ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Research Partnerships ◽  
Traditional Art ◽  
Implementation Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Approach

Purpose To describe a mural-based intervention that can be implemented in partnership with community members in Latino neighborhoods in order to improve awareness of barriers to recruitment/retention of U.S. Latinos in clinical research, while augmenting researchers’ access to sensitizing concepts critical for rigorous study design. Background Latinos in the United States suffer disproportionately from several chronic illnesses but are underrepresented as researchers and participants in National Institutes of Health–funded research. This lack of representation inhibits a nuanced awareness of the health needs of U.S. Latinos and hampers efforts to address a persistent lack of health equity among U.S. Latinos and other communities of color. Art-based interventions implemented in Latino communities are increasingly being recognized for their ability to bridge this gap and positively affect the quality and quantity of research partnerships between clinical researchers and U.S. Latinos. Method This article describes a mural-based intervention piloted in two predominantly Latino neighborhoods between 2016 and 2020. The design of this method was guided by community partnered participatory research practices and involved an Assessment–Diagnosis–Planning–Implementation–Evaluation approach. Results Mural painting addressed many of the participation challenges often associated with underrepresentation of Latinos in academic research and allowed for sensitizing interviews with key community members surrounding topics of interest to the research team. Conclusion Research methods that acknowledge traditional art forms, such as mural painting, create a space for building trust and spark interest in future research participation, while augmenting researchers’ access to sensitizing concepts that may improve the cultural competence of future studies, projects, and interventions.

Literacy: Gateway to a World of Exploits

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
Biale Zua
Keyword(s):  
Personal Development ◽  
National Development ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
National Governments

The importance of literacy to the personal development of an individual and existence of any nation cannot be overemphasized. Literacy is the foundation for meaningful development of any nation. It is not a single entity but an interconnection of several fields―education, health, agriculture, and more. For example, a literate individual can have access to information relating to her career or business. However, not every individual in the society is literate enough to contribute to national development. Thus, strong literacy skills are necessary to function in today’s contemporary society. This research examines literacy across African countries with a view of determining countries with high literacy rates. Countries in sub-Saharan Africa have low literacy rates with gender and regional disparity. Therefore, sub-Saharan Africa national governments need to develop strong literacy skills in their countries to participate effectively in the globalized society.

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