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.

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 Viewpoint: Health literacy and patient portals

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yulong Gu ◽  
Martin Orr ◽  
Jim Warren
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Patient Portal ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Patient Portals ◽  
Health Consumer ◽  
Improve Patient

Health literacy has been described as the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Improving health literacy may serve to promote concordance with therapy, engage patients in their own health care, and improve health outcomes. Patient portal technology aims at enabling patients and families to have easy access to key information in their own medical records and to communicate with their health care providers electronically. However, there is a gap in our understanding of how portals will improve patient outcome. The authors believe patient portal technology presents an opportunity to improve patient concordance with prescribed therapy, if adequate support is provided to equip patients (and family/carers) with the knowledge needed to utilise the health information available via the portals. Research is needed to understand what a health consumer will use patient portals for and how to support a user to realise the technology?s potential.

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.

scholarly journals Health Information behaviour during COVID-19 outbreak among Egyptian library and information science undergraduate students

2020 ◽  
pp. 026666692097618
Author(s):  
Ahmed Shehata
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Information Behaviour ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Information Literacy Skills

Health information shared on the Internet has the potential to improve people’s quality of life. However, the level of health information literacy and informational skills determines the individuals’ ability to obtain credible health information useful for them. This study investigates the Egyptian LIS undergraduates’ health information behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study has adopted a quantitative approach using a questionnaire to explore library and information science undergraduates’ health information behaviour. A sample of 161 students answered a questionnaire. The data were analysed using SPSS software. The study results show that official health websites, social media, and family and friends are the primary sources for health information for the participants. The findings also revealed that the sample has adequate health information skills, though many of the participants still need to raise their information literacy skills. Information credibility and personal beliefs were found to affect the participants’ decision to share health information on the Internet. One of the limitations of the study is that the sample selected in this study was LIS students who are trained to find reliable information as part of their education. Findings may be different for the “average” student. Furthermore, the questionnaire was distributed in one university, which means that the results cannot be generalised in other LIS departments using different courses. Therefore, more studies need to be conducted in other LIS departments with different course plans as they may produce different results. This study explores the health information behaviour of LIS undergraduates during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study results may help develop the course plan in many LIS departments in Egypt and the Middle East, which would help improve the students’ health information literacy.

scholarly journals Keterampilan literasi informasi sebagai upaya pencegahan hoaks mengenai informasi kesehatan di media sosial

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 99
Author(s):  
Tine Silvana Rachmawati ◽  
Merryam Agustine
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Study Techniques ◽  
Search For Information

People must know how identify and search for credible health information. This study aimed to determine how information literacy activities prevented the spread of health information hoaxes on social media. This study used a qualitative approach and case study research methods. The collect research data through observation, interviews with 15 interviewees, and literature study techniques. The study results found that people obtained health information literacy by utilizing social media that is used daily. First, people recognized when they needed information, meaning they already understood when to search for information and knew what information to seek. Second, people can find information was performed in various ways, such as choosing a mass media portal that was easy to use, searching for specific information by including keywords or hashtags. Third, people evaluate the information found by knowing who made the information. Who disseminates the information? Are social media accounts trustworthy? Does the skill match the required information? Fourth, people use the obtained information effectively. People only chose the information that was suitable for what they felt and needed. Conclusion this research is people that who use social media must have information literacy expertise in finding health information so that avoid hoax information widely circulating today.

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

scholarly journals Does health literacy affect the uptake of annual physical check-ups?: Results from the 2017 US health information national trends survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hee Yun Lee ◽  
Sooyoung Kim ◽  
Jessica Neese ◽  
Mi Hwa Lee
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Behavioral Model ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Services Use ◽  
Related Item ◽  
Study Results ◽  
National Trends

Abstract Background Little is known about how health literacy is linked to physical check-ups. This study aimed to examine the levels of physical check-ups (self-reported check-ups within the last year) by age group (those aged 18–59 years and those aged = ≥ 60 years) and the role of health literacy regarding physical check-ups in the United States. Methods Data for the study were obtained from the 2017 Health Information National Trends Survey. The original sample included 3,285 respondents, but only 3,146 surveys were used for this study. Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use guided this study, and a binomial logistic regression model was conducted using Stata 12.0 software package. Results While 82.0 % of the older group had an annual check-up, 67.3 % of the younger group had one. Both groups had similar ratios for health literacy-related item reporting. Study results show that annual check-up was positively associated with confidence in getting health information, having health insurance, and having a primary doctor for both age groups. However, getting a regular check-up was negatively associated with frustration while searching for information among the younger group. In comparison, it was positively associated with difficulty understanding information for the older group. Conclusions To increase annual physical check-ups, health literacy-related interventions should be developed and address the barriers most associated with health check-ups. One way of addressing this barrier is to improve communication from healthcare professionals to consumers through the use of easy-to-understand explanations appropriate for the consumer.

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.

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