scholarly journals Health Literacy: Addressing Well-Being: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 105-112
Author(s):  
Faisal Noor Ahmad ◽  
Ravishankar TL ◽  
Amit Tirth ◽  
Parmieka Rawat
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Body ◽  
Limited Health Literacy ◽  
Treatment Regimens ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Causes Of Disease

Literacy forms an important input in overall development of individual enabling them to comprehend their social, political and cultural environment better and respond to it. Health literacy requires knowledge of health topics. People with limited health literacy often lack knowledge or have misinformation about the body as well as the nature and causes of disease. Without this knowledge, they may not understand the relationship between lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise and various health outcomes. Health literacy plays a key role on the overall health and wellbeing and is now recognized as a determinant of health and has been made a priority of public health agendas, as there is existence of clear scientific evidence regarding its association with health outcomes such as use of health care services, hospitalizations, mortality rates, and adherence to treatment regimens. Therefore, responsive health system that eliminates barriers to clear communication and provides usable and actionable health information and services is important to uplift the current situation.

Gender and Health

Sociology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bridget K. Gorman ◽  
Alexa Solazzo
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Scientific Work ◽  
The Body ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Gender And Health ◽  
Gender Patterns ◽  
Gender Based

The relationship between gender and health has received considerable research study over the last several decades, within sociology but also related fields in social sciences, public health, and medicine. This body of scholarship documents both similarity and difference between the health experience of men and women across the life course. Gender-based health patterns are dependent upon the health outcome examined, as life expectancy is shorter among men while women experience higher rates of various non-fatal functional problems and chronic medical conditions. Gender differences also exist in mental health outcomes and participation in various healthy and unhealthy behaviors, including utilization of health care services. Yet these associations are not uniform and can differ when various population subgroups are compared. As such, a growing body of scientific work argues for the need to apply an intersectional lens to the study of gender and health, and this work details how various cross-cutting identities (e.g., age, racial/ethnicity identity, social class, sexual orientation) intersect with gender to shape health outcomes. More recently, scholars have begun to assess how non-binary measures of gender identity relate to health status, and thus a small but increasing body of research explores whether and how health status varies for cisgender and transgender adults. While a substantial amount of attention has been given to describing the nuances of how gender relates to health status, the gender-health literature is also characterized by robust discussion of the factors that contribute to gender patterns in health status, including but not limited to socioeconomic status, relationships and care work, differential experiences in medical care treatment, masculinity, stress and social supports, and health behaviors. Altogether, this article introduces the reader to classic works and reviews, theoretical perspectives, and key descriptive and explanatory papers that represent the body of scholarship examining how gender relates to health status.

scholarly journals Involvement of Cloud Computing and IoT in the Field of Health Care

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Hareesh Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Cloud Computing ◽  
Internet Of Things ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
The Body ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The Internet Of Things

The rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing is finding is a big part of our lifestyle, planning to upgrade personal satisfaction by partnering with various shrewd gadgets, innovations, and applications. Generally, the fields of IoT and cloud computing considers the mechanization of everything around the world. Presently scientists have discovered that there is a reasonably big utilization of IoT and cloud in the field of the health care industry. In between the panoply of uses empowered by the Internet of Things (IoT), brilliant and associated health care services play a significant role. The arrangement of network sensors, either exhausted on the body or incorporated into our living environment which makes the processing of information demonstrative of our physical and emotional well-being. Such data can achieve a positive disruptive shift in the human services, collected consistently, totaled, and adequately mined. This study exhibits the significance of the Internet of Things and Cloud in the field of the Healthcare Industry.

scholarly journals Improving Health for People Living With Heart Failure: Focus Group Study of Preconditions for Co-Production of Health and Care (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Marie Suutari ◽  
Johan Thor ◽  
Annika M M Nordin ◽  
Sofia Kjellström ◽  
Kristina Areskoug Josefsson
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Cardiac Care ◽  
Limited Health Literacy ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Care Processes ◽  
Limited Health

BACKGROUND Co-production of health and care involving patients, families of patients, and professionals in care processes can create joint learning about how to meet patients’ needs. Although barriers and facilitators to co-production have been examined previously in various health care contexts, the preconditions in Swedish chronic cardiac care contexts are yet to be explored. This study is set in the health system of the Swedish region of Jönköping County and is part of system-wide efforts to promote better health for persons with heart failure (HF). OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to test the usefulness of the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Behavior (COM-B) model when assessing the barriers to and facilitators of co-production of health and care perceived by patients with HF, family members of patients with HF, and professionals in a Swedish chronic cardiac care context as a guide for subsequent initiatives. METHODS Data collection involved 1 focus group interview (FGI) with patients with HF (n=5), 1 FGI with family members of patients with HF (n=5), 1 FGI with professionals in primary care (n=7), and 1 FGI with professionals in cardiac care (n=4). In addition, patients with HF kept diaries of their thoughts regarding co-production. Using a deductive approach to content analysis, underpinned by the COM-B model, barriers and facilitators were categorized into capabilities, opportunities, and motivations to co-produce health and care. RESULTS The participants showed limited understanding of co-production as a practice. They appeared to view it as a privilege to be offered to patients on top of traditional care and rarely as an approach for improving health care processes. The interviews revealed the limited health literacy among patients and the struggle of professionals to convey health information to these patients. Co-production was considered to be more resource-intensive than traditional care. Different expectations of stakeholders’ roles were revealed: professionals expected older patients not to want to co-produce health and care, and all participants expected professionals to be in charge of health care services. The family members’ position involved trying to balance their desire to support their relatives with understanding when, how, and with whom to co-produce. Presumed benefits motivated stakeholders: co-production was recognized to motivate patients to improve self-care. However, the participants recognized that motivation to get involved in health and care decisions varies over time among stakeholders. CONCLUSIONS Co-production can be facilitated by the stakeholders’ motivation. However, varying levels of understanding of co-production, patients’ limited health literacy, unease with power sharing between patients and professionals, and resource constraints are barriers that need to be managed to promote co-produced care and better health for persons living with HF. Further research is warranted to explore how to co-produce health care services with patients with HF and how leaders can facilitate the inevitable cultural change it requires and represents.

Hypnotherapy as an Adjunct to Medical Treatment: Highlighting Effectiveness and Identifying Barriers to Further Integrative Treatment

2021 ◽  
pp. 097206342110115
Author(s):  
Feryad A. Hussain
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Medical Treatment ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Medical Treatments ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Secondary Health Care ◽  
History Of ◽  
Clinical Hypnosis ◽  
The Mind

Integrative models of health care have garnered increasing attention over the years and are currently being employed within acute and secondary health care services to support medical treatments in a range of specialities. Clinical hypnosis has a history of working in partnership with medical treatments quite apart from its psychiatric associations. It aims to mobilise the mind–body connection in order to identify and overcome obstacles to managing symptoms of ill health, resulting in overall improved emotional and physical well-being. This article aims to encourage the use of hypnotherapy in physical health care by highlighting the effectiveness of hypnosis as an adjunct to medical treatment and identifying barriers preventing further integrative treatments.

scholarly journals The role of iron and zinc in cognitive development of children

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-151
Author(s):  
Md Abdullah Al Mamun ◽  
Ruhina Binta A Ghani
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Services ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Deficiency Anemia ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Dietary Practices ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Iron And Zinc ◽  
Frequent Consumption

The effects of iron and zinc on cognitive, motor and behavioral development are on children is scientifically accepted and concentrates on the more recent work, some previous work and areas of controversy. There are well established associations with poor development and iron and zinc deficiency in food source but the deficiencies usually occur in disadvantaged circumstances and establishing causal relationships is not easy. The health and well being of children depend upon the interaction between their genetic potential and exogenous factors like adequacy of nutrition, safety of the environment, social interaction and other childhood activity. Both proteins-energy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies increase the risk of death from common diseases such as acute gastroenteritis, pneumonia and measles. Iron deficiency anemia, for example, is estimated to affect almost 25% of the world’s population resulting in high economic cost by adding to the burden on health care services, affecting learning in school. Dietary practices frequently seen in children from both developed and developing countries, leading to frequent consumption of nutrient poor foods, may also put them at risk of micronutrient deficiencies.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2017, 3(2): 145-151

scholarly journals AB0300 LUPUS DISEASE ACTIVITY CORRELATES WITH QUALITY OF LIFE BUT NOT WITH HEALTH LITERACY STATUS

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1176.2-1176
Author(s):  
E. Eraslan ◽  
R. Bilici Salman ◽  
H. Satiş ◽  
A. Avanoglu Guler ◽  
H. Karadeniz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Patient Reported Outcome ◽  
The Body ◽  
Limited Health Literacy ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Limited Health

Background:Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology that can affect any organ of the body. SLE is associated with adverse effects on both health and non-health-related quality of life (HRQOL and non-HRQOL). Lupus PRO is a patient reported outcome measure that has been validated in many languages. It has 44 items that cover both HRQOL and non-HRQOL (1). Health literacy is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Multiple studies indicate that people with limited health literacy have worse health status and higher rates of hospitalization (2).Objectives:We aimed to evaluate the relationship between the LLDAS (Lupus Low Disease Activity State) criteria and the Lupus PRO test, as well as the health literacy status of lupus patients.Methods:83 SLE patients (94% women) were included in the study. We performed Lupus PRO and the European Health Literacy Survey tests during the routine follow-up visits of lupus patients to our rheumatology outpatient clinic and admissions to rheumatology inpatient clinic. Available clinical data on medical records were obtained, physician global assessments (PGA) were recorded by the attending physician.Results:LLDAS criteria strongly and inversely correlated with the total score, as well as the mood subunit of the Lupus PRO. Similarly, it also significantly inversely correlated with the body appearence and goals subunits. Health literacy status of the patients did not correlate with their LLDAS scores, ie their disease activities.Conclusion:Our results suggest that lupus disease activity, assessed by LLDAS criteria, significantly correlates with measures of quality of life, spesicifically Lupus PRO test, but not with health literacy status. Further studies are needed to evaluate if health literacy is related with damage, hospitalization or mortality associated with lupus.References:[1]Jolly M, Pickard AS, Block JA, Kumar RB, Mikolaitis RA, Wilke CT, et al., editors. Disease-specific patient reported outcome tools for systemic lupus erythematosus. Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism; 2012: Elsevier.[2]Paasche-Orlow MK, Parker RM, Gazmararian JA, Nielsen-Bohlman LT, Rudd RR. The prevalence of limited health literacy. Journal of general internal medicine. 2005;20(2):175-84.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Making Friends at Antenatal Classes: A Qualitative Exploration of Friendship Across the Transition to Motherhood

2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 178-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary L. Nolan ◽  
Victoria Mason ◽  
Sarah Snow ◽  
Wendy Messenger ◽  
Jonathon Catling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Services ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Transition To Motherhood ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Constant Comparative Method ◽  
Making Friends ◽  
Qualitative Exploration ◽  
Antenatal Classes

This study explored how friendships made at antenatal classes preserve new mothers’ well-being, postnatally. Eight women from the United Kingdom who had attended antenatal classes in the third trimester were interviewed following the birth of their first baby. Transcripts were analyzed using a constant comparative method. Findings suggest that friendships made at antenatal classes are not only unique but also support women’s mental health and enhance self-efficacy because the women give and gain reassurance that their babies are developing normally. Such friendships may reduce demands on overstretched social and health-care services. Childbirth educators, midwives, and nurses can be encouraged to capitalize on the opportunity provided by antenatal classes to facilitate the formation of friendships that can help mothers to find “a new equilibrium.”

scholarly journals Health-care Workforce Training to Effectively Support Family Caregivers of Seniors in Care

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-171
Author(s):  
Rachel Fisher ◽  
Jasneet Parmar ◽  
Wendy Duggleby ◽  
Peter George J. Tian ◽  
Wonita Janzen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Workforce Training ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Canadian Health Care System ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Qualitative Thematic Analysis

Introduction Family caregivers (FCGs) play an integral, yet often invisible, role in the Canadian health-care system. As the population ages, their presence will become even more essential as they help balance demands on the system and enable community dwelling seniors to remain so for as long as possible. To preserve their own well-being and capacity to provide ongoing care, FCGs require support to the meet the challenges of their daily caregiving responsibilities. Supporting FCGs results in better care provision to community-dwelling seniors receiving health-care services, as well as enhancing the quality of life for FCGs. Although FCGs rely upon health-care professionals (HCPs) to provide them with support and services, there is a paucity of research pertaining to the type of health workforce training (HWFT) that HCPs should receive to address FCG needs. Programs that train HCPs to engage with, empower, and support FCGs are required. Objective To describe and discuss key findings of a caregiver symposium focused on determining components of HWFT that might better enable HCPs to support FCGs. Methods A one-day symposium was held on February 22, 2018 in Edmonton, Alberta, to gather the perspectives of FCGs, HCPs, and stakeholders. Attendees participated in a series of working groups to discuss barriers, facilitators, and recommendations related to HWFT. Proceedings and working group discussions were transcribed, and a qualitative thematic analysis was conducted to identify key themes. Results Participants identified the following topic areas as being essential to training HCPs in the provision of support for FCGs: understanding the FCG role, communicating with FCGs, partnering with FCGs, fostering FCG resilience, navigating healthcare systems and accessing resources, and enhancing the culture and context of care. Conclusions FCGs require more support than is currently being provided by HCPs. Training programs need to specifically address topics identified by participants. These findings will be used to develop HWFT for HCPs.

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