scholarly journals Fostering Health Literacy Responsiveness in a Remote Primary Health Care Setting: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 2730
Author(s):  
Rachael Laing ◽  
Sandra C Thompson ◽  
Shandell Elmer ◽  
Rohan L Rasiah
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Management Style ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Healthcare Organisation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Open Communication ◽  
Health Literacy Responsiveness

Primary healthcare organisations have an important role in addressing health literacy as this is a barrier to accessing and utilising health care. Until recently, no organisational development tool operationalising health literacy in an Australian context existed. This research evaluated the efficacy of the Organisational Health Literacy Responsiveness (Org-HLR) tool and associated assessment process in a primary healthcare organisation in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. This study utilised a sequential explanatory mixed methods research design incorporating the collection and analysis of data in two phases: (1) Pre- and post-survey data and; (2) seven semi-structured interviews. Survey results showed that participants’ confidence in core health literacy concepts improved from baseline following the intervention. Analysis of the interview data revealed participants’ initial understanding of health literacy was limited, and this impeded organisational responsiveness to health literacy needs. Participants reported the workshop and tool content were relevant to their organisation; they valued involving members from all parts of the organisation and having an external facilitator to ensure the impartiality of the process. External barriers to improving their internal organisational health literacy responsiveness were identified, with participants acknowledging the management style and culture of open communication within the organisation as enablers of change. Participants identified actionable changes to improve their organisational health literacy responsiveness using the process of organisational assessment and change.

scholarly journals Health literacy of Samoan mothers and their experiences with health professionals

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fofoa H. Pio ◽  
Vili Nosa
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Shared Responsibility ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Open Communication

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTIONPatient and health professional engagement is a crucial factor for the effectiveness of service delivery and the management of care. Low health literacy amongst Pacific peoples is likely to affect their engagement with health professionals. AIMTo explore the health literacy of Samoan mothers and their experiences with health professionals in primary care. METHODSTwenty Samoan mothers and caregivers living in Auckland were interviewed about their experiences when engaging with health professionals. Semi-structured interviews guided by open-ended questions were conducted with individual participants in either Samoan or English. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed. RESULTSA key finding was the significance of the health professionals’ role, in particular general practitioners, in providing resources and information to participants. Many participants recognised their general practitioner as their primary source of information. The findings revealed the negative experiences participants faced while engaging with general practitioners and shared how this affected their ability to manage care. Themes about enablers of open communication with health professionals included mothers understanding their rights as patients and being acknowledged as an expert on their child’s health. Themes about barriers to open communication with health professionals included limited consultation time, language barriers, medical jargon, closed answers, power relations and the shame associated with not fully understanding. DISCUSSIONThis research can inform health care engagement practices with patients. This study is relevant to health-care providers, development of health resources, health researchers evaluating health-care communications between providers and patients, to inform culturally appropriate and effective health-care delivery. The importance of shared responsibility in addressing issues of health literacy is noted, shifting the focus to everyone involved in providing and receiving information and in making decisions and managing care.

Access to Health Care for Pregnant Arabic-Speaking Refugee Women and Mothers in Germany

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Henry ◽  
Christian Beruf ◽  
Thomas Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Limited Health Literacy ◽  
Pregnancy And Childbirth ◽  
Refugee Women ◽  
Health Care Experiences ◽  
Access To Health

Refugee women often encounter multiple barriers when accessing ante-, peri-, and postnatal care. The aim of this study was to investigate how premigration experiences, conceptions about pregnancy and childbirth, health literacy, and language skills influence access to health care, experiences of health care, and childbirth. A total of 12 semi-structured interviews with refugee women from Iraq, Syria, and Palestine were conducted in the city of Dresden. Content analysis was applied using Levesque’s access model as a framework. Results indicate that conceptions of pregnancy and childbirth and premigration experiences influence women’s behaviors and experiences of pregnancy and childbirth. They contribute to barriers in accessing health care and lead to negative health outcomes. In view of limited health literacy, poor language skills, lack of information, and missing translators, female relatives in countries of origin remain an important source of information. Improved access to services for refugee women is needed.

scholarly journals Patients’ Needs Regarding Anxiety Management in Palliative Cancer Care: A Qualitative Study in a Hospice Setting

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (11) ◽  
pp. 947-954 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Zweers ◽  
Alexander de Graeff ◽  
Jette Duijn ◽  
Everlien de Graaf ◽  
Petronella O. Witteveen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Symptom Management ◽  
World Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Common Symptom ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Open Communication ◽  
Hospice Patients ◽  
Health Organization

Introduction: Anxiety is a common symptom in the palliative phase, and symptom management depends on the competencies of individual professionals. This study aims to get insight into the needs of anxious hospice patients with advanced cancer regarding support. Method: Semi-structured interviews were performed in admitted hospice patients with cancer. Patients admitted from May 2017 till May 2018 were eligible whether or not they were anxious. Interviews were analyzed and coded within predefined topics. Results: Fourteen patients were included: 10 females, median age 71, and median World Health Organization performance score 3. Most patients were highly educated. Thirteen patients were interviewed within 6 months before death. Information, open communication, sense of control, safety, adequate symptom management, and respect for patients’ coping strategy were the 6 main expressed needs. Conclusion: Assessing patients’ needs regarding anxiety provided important angles where health-care professionals can make a difference in order to support anxious patients in their final stage of life to realize tailored palliative care. Future research should focus on the development of a systematic approach for health-care professionals to manage anxiety in daily care of terminal patients.

scholarly journals Exploring Health Literacy in Individuals with Alcohol Addiction: A Mixed Methods Clinical Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6728
Author(s):  
Gabriela Rolova ◽  
Beata Gavurova ◽  
Benjamin Petruzelka
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Addiction Treatment ◽  
Alcohol Addiction ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Literacy Survey ◽  
Health Related

This mixed methods research paper explores health literacy (HL) in individuals with alcohol addiction by using the 47-item version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47) and semi-structured interviews concerning health-related competencies (access, understand, appraise, and apply health information), and determines the limitations of the HLS-EU-Q47 when used under specific conditions of clinical practice. The questionnaire survey and the interviews were conducted with individuals of different health literacy levels who were undergoing inpatient alcohol addiction treatment. The findings indicate that individuals with alcohol addiction might require different types of health information according to their health literacy level in terms of quantity and quality of information to recover from alcohol addiction and improve their overall health. The implications for the clinical practice of addiction treatment as well as recommendations for national and regional policy are also discussed.

scholarly journals Exploring the occupational therapist’s role in primary health care: Listening to voices of stakeholders

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deshini Naidoo ◽  
Jacqueline Van Wyk ◽  
Robin W. E. Joubert
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Childhood Intervention ◽  
Prevention Programmes

Background: Re-engineering of primary healthcare (PHC) was initiated nationally in 2009. There is, however, little information on the role expected of occupational therapists (OTs)in PHC. Objectives: This research aimed to understand how stakeholders of the Department of Health (DOH) perceived the role of OT in PHC service. Method: This exploratory, qualitative study used purposive sampling to recruit community health-care workers (CHW; n = 23), primary healthcare nurses (PHC; n = 5), DOH management (n = 5), experienced (n = 14) and novice OTs (n = 37) who graduated from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The PHC nurses and the CHW represented PHC clinics in one district in KwaZulu-Natal. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Interviews with CHWs were conducted in isiZulu. These were transcribed and translated prior to data analysis. Audio recordings of English interviews and focus groups were transcribed. Data for each participant group were inductively and thematically analysed to identify the themes. Results: The findings provided an indication of the role of OTs in PHC settings. All participants perceived the role of OTs as predominantly curative/rehabilitation-based and individualised. Participants had a limited understanding of the key principles of PHC. They identified a need for adult and paediatric rehabilitation and early childhood intervention. Limited mention was made of population-based approaches, collaborative, and health promotion and prevention programmes. Conclusion: The study has highlighted that neither management nor OTs seemed to align practice and planning according to PHC principles. A review of the theory and experiential learning in the OT programme is required.

scholarly journals An Empirical Investigation of Supervisory Management Styles and Associated Factors for Postgraduate Level Research Supervision

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tooba Saleem ◽  
Rizwan Akram Rana
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Management Style ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Management Styles ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Research Supervision ◽  
Postgraduate Level ◽  
Baseline Characteristics

Based on the dynamic model of supervisory management styles this research focused on the empirical verification of the preferred supervisory management styles and their associated baseline characteristics of supervisors and supervisees. The study used a mixed-methods research approach and conducted in two phases. In the first phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted from 30 supervisors from different disciplines to get an overview of the context specific supervision problems faced by supervisors and their approaches to solve them during the different research stages. These interviews helped to develop items of supervisory management styles questionnaire (SMSQ). This questionnaire was based on 12 different situations. In the second phase, supervisors and supervisees from the 13 different universities of Punjab were selected purposively to respond the supervisory management styles questionnaire. The chi-square tests were performed to analyze the preferred supervisory management styles and their association with personal, academic and institutional characteristics of supervisors and supervisees. The results showed significant influence of the supervisees’ background profile characteristics and supervisors’ administrative position on the adoption of a particular supervisory management style at postgraduate level. The study identified the baseline characteristics associated with different supervision styles that may help to resolve possible supervisory alignment conflicts

scholarly journals Mangomoments - preconditions and impact on patients and families, healthcare professionals and organisations: a multi-method study in Flemish hospitals

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. e034543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kris Vanhaecht ◽  
Elly Van Bael ◽  
Ellen Coeckelberghs ◽  
Charlotte Van der Auwera ◽  
Fien Claessens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Healing Process ◽  
Consensus Meeting ◽  
Personal Accomplishment ◽  
Healthcare Organisation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Open Communication ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Oncological Patients

ObjectiveUnderstanding how small unexpected acts or gestures by healthcare professionals, known as Mangomoments, are translated into practice, what their preconditions are and what their impact is on patients and families, healthcare professionals and organisations.DesignA multi-method design was used based on four phases: (1) A (media)campaign to collect Mangomoment stories (n=1045), of which 94% (n=983) were defined as Mangomoments; (2) Semi-structured interviews (n=120); (3) Focus group interviews (n=3); and (4) A consensus meeting.SettingRespondents from a hospital and primary care setting.ParticipantsPatients, family, healthcare professionals, managers, researchers and a policymaker participated.ResultsMangomoments are mainly classified in the dimensions ‘Respect for values, preferences and needs’ and ‘Emotional support’. Differences in importance of the dimensions were found between healthcare professionals, oncological patients and family and non-oncological patients and family. The results of the interviews, focus groups and consensus meeting were visualised by the Mangomoment model. It identifies several preconditions on the level of patients, healthcare professionals and leadership. For each of these preconditions a catalyst was identified to increase the prevalence of Mangomoments. In general, Mangomoments improved the patient and family experience and facilitated adherence to therapy and led to a positive perception on the healing process. Positive effects for professionals include personal accomplishment and anti-burnout, joy in work and a positive team atmosphere. This led to positive resonance by a relationship of trust between the patient and the healthcare professionals, feelings of tolerance during negative experiences and open communication and a safe climate. Overall, patients and healthcare workers concluded that Mangomoments led to loyalty to the healthcare organisation.ConclusionMangomoments do not only have a positive impact on patient and family but also on the healthcare professional. Leadership should shape several preconditions and catalysts which can lead to positive resonance and loyalty of patients and professionals.

Barriers and enablers to academic health leadership

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleem Bharwani ◽  
Theresa Kline ◽  
Margaret Patterson ◽  
Peter Craighead
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Medical School ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Open Communication ◽  
Academic Health ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Barriers And Enablers ◽  
Health Leadership

Purpose This study sought to identify the barriers and enablers to leadership enactment in academic health-care settings. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews (n = 77) with programme stakeholders (medical school trainees, university leaders, clinical leaders, medical scientists and directors external to the medical school) were conducted, and the responses content-analysed. Findings Both contextual and individual factors were identified as playing a role in affecting academic health leadership enactment that has an impact on programme development, success and maintenance. Contextual factors included sufficient resources allocated to the programme, opportunities for learners to practise leadership skills, a competent team around the leader once that person is in place, clear expectations for the leader and a culture that fosters open communication. Contextual barriers included highly bureaucratic structures, fear-of-failure and non-trusting cultures and inappropriate performance systems. Programmes were advised to select participants based on self-awareness, strong communication skills and an innovative thinking style. Filling specific knowledge and skill gaps, particularly for those not trained in medical school, was viewed as essential. Ineffective decision-making styles and tendencies to get involved in day-to-day activities were barriers to the development of academic health leaders. Originality/value Programmes designed to develop academic health-care leaders will be most effective if they develop leadership at all levels; ensure that the organisation’s culture, structure and processes reinforce positive leadership practices; and recognise the critical role of teams in supporting its leaders.

scholarly journals Menopause-related health literacy: a qualitative study of experiences and perceptions of menopause-related health care among Vietnamese-born women in Melbourne, Australia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Stanzel ◽  
Karin Hammarberg ◽  
Trang T Nguyen ◽  
Jane Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Natural Event ◽  
Optimal Health

Abstract Background Health literacy refers to an individual’s capacity to access, understand, evaluate and use health information to make well informed health-related decision to maintain and promote optimal health. Low health literacy is linked with worse health outcomes and is more common in people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds and from non-English speaking backgrounds and among people with limited education. Peri-menopausal and postmenopausal health behaviour predicts health in later life. This qualitative study was conducted in Melbourne, Australia. The aim of this study was to explored menopause-related health literacy and experiences with menopause-related health care among Vietnamese-born women who had immigrated to Australia as adults. Methods A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with women aged between 45 – 60 years and peri or postmenopausal. Transcripts were analyised thematically. Results A total of 12 women were interviewed. Participants viewed menopause as a natural event and obtained most of their menopause-related information from family and friends. Limited English language proficiency affected their capacity to access, understand, evaluate and use menopause-related health information. They identified their Vietnamese speaking General Practitioners (GPs) as a reliable source of health information, but ‘shyness’ prevented them from asking questions about menopause and they suggested that GPs need to initiate menopause-related health conversations. Conclusion Low menopause-related health literacy among immigrant Vietnamese-born women may limit their opportunities to access information about and benefit from menopause-related health promoting behaviours. Access to menopause-related health information in relevant community languages is essential to support immigrant women to make well informed menopause-related health decisions.

scholarly journals Field-Testing and Refinement of the Organisational Health Literacy Responsiveness Self-Assessment (Org-HLR) Tool and Process

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Trezona ◽  
Sarity Dodson ◽  
Emma Fitzsimon ◽  
Anthony D. LaMontagne ◽  
Richard H. Osborne
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Health Literacy Responsiveness

Health literacy refers to the skills and knowledge that influence a person’s ability to access, understand and use information to make health-related decisions, which are influenced by the complexity of their health needs and the demands health services place on them. The aim of this study was to field-test the Organisational Health Literacy Responsiveness (Org-HLR) tool and process to determine their utility in assessing health literacy responsiveness and for supporting organisations to plan health literacy-related improvement activities. Four organisations in Victoria, Australia, field-tested the Org-HLR tool. Data were collected through direct observation, participant feedback, and focus groups. Forty-three individuals participated in field-testing activities, and 20 took part in focus group meetings. Themes relating to the applicability and utility of the Org-HLR self-assessment tool and process were identified. Field-testing resulted in a number of refinements to the tool and process. Twenty-eight indicators were removed, 29 were rephrased to improve their clarity, and four new indicators were added. The revised Org-HLR self-assessment tool contains six dimensions, 22 sub-dimensions and 110 performance indicators. The Org-HLR tool and process were perceived as useful for assessing health literacy responsiveness, prioritising improvement activities, and establishing a benchmark for monitoring and evaluation of improvements over time. Testing generated an improved Org-HLR tool and assessment process that are likely to have utility across a broad range of health and social service sector organisations.

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