scholarly journals Correlates of Health Literacy among Farmers in Northern Thailand

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (19) ◽  
pp. 7071
Author(s):  
Hannah Montgomery ◽  
Siena Morgan ◽  
Kriengkrai Srithanaviboonchai ◽  
Pisittawoot Ayood ◽  
Penprapa Siviroj ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Northern Thailand ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Health Promotion Programs ◽  
Important Health ◽  
Literacy Survey ◽  
Lower Health ◽  
Village Health

Low health literacy is a barrier to public health efforts worldwide. Agricultural workers have an elevated risk for lower health literacy, with important health implications because of their potential exposure to harmful chemicals. The Asian Health Literacy Survey (AHLS) has been developed and translated for use in several different Asian countries and is standardized for easy comparisons across regions. However, it has not been translated for use in Thailand. The purpose of this study was to (1) to determine the health literacy of rural Thai farmers in Northern Thailand, and (2) identify correlates of health literacy within this group. Internal consistency of the Thai AHLS translation was “excellent” (alpha = 0.92). Descriptive results showed that health literacy was relatively high (M = 34.98/50, SD = 6.87). Education, income, working as a village health volunteer, age, length of time farming, no chemical use in farming, health, and pesticide screening were statistically significant correlates of health literacy (R2 = 0.19). Thai farmers had higher health literacy than reported for several other Asian countries. Results may be used to inform the design of future health promotion programs.

Canadian Men’s Health Literacy: A Nationally Representative Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 993-1003 ◽  
Author(s):  
John L. Oliffe ◽  
Donald R. McCreary ◽  
Nick Black ◽  
Ryan Flannigan ◽  
S. Larry Goldenberg
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Men’S Health ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Men's Health ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health Promotion Programs

Though men’s health promotion has attracted increased research attention, conspicuously absent have been empirical insights to health literacy levels within and across male subgroups. Recent advancements in the measurement of health literacy have made available avenues for evaluating individual and social determinants of health literacy. Important insights can be drawn to detail patterns and diversity among men as a means to informing the design, implementation, and evaluation of tailored health promotion programs. Drawing on 2000 Canada-based men’s responses to the Health Literacy Questionnaire, correlations between demographic variables and six health literacy scales are described. Low income, low education, and living alone were associated with men’s low health literacy, with the strongest effect sizes for the “Social support for health” and “Actively engaged with health care professionals” scales. Multiple linear regressions confirmed low income as the strongest predictor of men’s low health literacy in all the scales except “Appraisal of health information.” Low income, self-identifying as gay, bisexual, or other, and living alone were strongly predictive of low scores on the “Social support for health” scale. The findings affirm the importance of considering men’s health literacy and inequities to advance effective men’s health promotion programs.

scholarly journals Understanding and Responding to Health Literacy as a Social Determinant of Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Don Nutbeam ◽  
Jane E. Lloyd
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Social Determinant ◽  
Literacy Intervention ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Transferable Skills ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Social Determinant Of Health

Evidence of a social gradient in health literacy has been found in all reported national population surveys. Health literacy is a midstream determinant of health but not a panacea for health inequities created by the maldistribution of opportunity and resources. It is possible to optimize the contribution health literacy makes in mediating the causes and effects of established social determinants of health. Existing interventions demonstrate the feasibility of improving health literacy among higher-risk populations, but research remains underdeveloped and effects on health inequity are largely untested. Future health literacy intervention research should focus on ( a) improving the quality of health communication that reaches a diversity of populations, especially by improving frontline professional skills and support; ( b) enabling people to develop transferable skills in accessing, understanding, analyzing, and applying health information; and ( c) ensuring that priority is proportionate to need by reaching and engaging the population groups who are disproportionately affected by low health literacy. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 42 is April 1, 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

scholarly journals Online decision aids for primary cardiovascular disease prevention: systematic search, evaluation of quality and suitability for low health literacy patients

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. e025173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carissa Bonner ◽  
Pinika Patel ◽  
Michael Anthony Fajardo ◽  
Ruixuan Zhuang ◽  
Lyndal Trevena
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Shared Decision Making ◽  
Decision Aids ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Lower Health ◽  
Cvd Prevention ◽  
Lower Health Literacy

ObjectivesRecent guideline changes for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention medication have resulted in calls to implement shared decision-making rather than arbitrary treatment thresholds. Less attention has been paid to existing tools that could facilitate this. Decision aids are well-established tools that enable shared decision-making and have been shown to improve CVD prevention adherence. However, it is unknown how many CVD decision aids are publicly available for patients online, what their quality is like and whether they are suitable for patients with lower health literacy, for whom the burden of CVD is greatest. This study aimed to identify and evaluate all English language, publicly available online CVD prevention decision aids.DesignSystematic review of public websites in August to November 2016 using an environmental scan methodology, with updated evaluation in April 2018. The decision aids were evaluated based on: (1) suitability for low health literacy populations (understandability, actionability and readability); and (2) International Patient Decision Aids Standards (IPDAS).Primary outcome measuresUnderstandability and actionability using the validated Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Printed Materials (PEMAT-P scale), readability using Gunning–Fog and Flesch–Kincaid indices and quality using IPDAS V.3 and V.4.ResultsA total of 25 unique decision aids were identified. On the PEMAT-P scale, the decision aids scored well on understandability (mean 87%) but not on actionability (mean 61%). Readability was also higher than recommended levels (mean Gunning–Fog index=10.1; suitable for grade 10 students). Four decision aids met criteria to be considered a decision aid (ie, met IPDAS qualifying criteria) and one sufficiently minimised major bias (ie, met IPDAS certification criteria).ConclusionsPublicly available CVD prevention decision aids are not suitable for low literacy populations and only one met international standards for certification. Given that patients with lower health literacy are at increased risk of CVD, this urgently needs to be addressed.

scholarly journals Does Health Literacy Make a Difference? Comparing the Effect of Conventional Medicine Versus Homeopathic Prescribing on Treatment Credibility and Expectancy

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel Wilhelm ◽  
Frank Euteneuer
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Conventional Medicine ◽  
Homeopathic Remedy ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Lower Health ◽  
Homeopathic Remedies ◽  
Lower Health Literacy ◽  
Potential Moderator ◽  
Treatment Credibility

ObjectiveWhile homeopathic remedies are often used to treat non-specific complaints such as headaches, empirical evidence suggests their treatment effect is due to the placebo effect. Low health literacy seems to be connected to higher use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The aim of this study was to examine what people with occasional headaches expect from conventional medicine or homeopathic remedies and if health literacy interacts with this expectation.MethodsIn this experimental study, n = 582 participants with occasional headaches were randomized to read one of two vignettes, which described the prescription of either conventional medicine or a homeopathic remedy. Subsequently, the participants were asked to rate treatment credibility and expectancy with regard to their assigned vignette. Health literacy was assessed as a potential moderator.ResultsParticipants in the conventional medicine group rated treatment credibility and expectancy higher than in the homeopathic remedy group. Moderation analysis revealed that when being offered conventional medicine, participant reports of treatment credibility and expectancy decreased with lower health literacy, while these outcomes increased with lower health literacy for homeopathic remedies.DiscussionPeople with occasional headaches estimate the effectiveness of conventional medication properly. However, health care professionals should pay special attention to patients with low health literacy, as they might need more time and information to give their informed consent.

scholarly journals Health Literacy Knowledge and Experiences of Nursing Students at a South African University

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisca Mibei ◽  
Felicity Daniels
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Literacy Knowledge

A worldwide high prevalence of low health literacy has been reported, and despite the emergence of health literacy as a better determinant of health than socio-economic status, it is alarming that little attention is being accorded to training health workers on health literacy practices. This study thus sought to describe the health literacy knowledge and experiences of nursing students gained during training in order to establish a basis that will inform future health literacy training. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out using a questionnaire to establish the health literacy knowledge and experience of 82 nursing students. Data were analysed using descriptive as well as inferential statistics. The students exhibited unsatisfactory health literacy knowledge as measured by the questionnaire, with an average score of 73 per cent, with knowledge gaps in some areas – for example with regard to the effect of low health literacy on patient health outcomes and identification of patients with low health literacy. Their health literacy experience was also lacking, with students only reporting some experience in the use of written materials in providing patient education. The results portray that the emphasis of health literacy in the curriculum failed to have a sufficient effect on health literacy knowledge.

Social networks in patients hospitalized with preventable conditions for heart disease and diabetes in Hawai‘i by health literacy

2021 ◽  
pp. 174239532098789
Author(s):  
Tetine L Sentell ◽  
Joy L Agner ◽  
James Davis ◽  
Santhosh Mannem ◽  
Todd B Seto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Disparities ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Native Hawaiians ◽  
Preventable Hospitalizations ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Lower Health ◽  
Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations

Objectives Reducing potentially preventable hospitalizations (PPH) for chronic disease is a research and practice priority. Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI) have disparities in PPH, and are understudied in both health literacy and social network research. Greater inclusion of social and familial networks can help address health disparities among people with chronic illness and enhance culturally relevant healthcare. Methods Adults hospitalized with a heart disease or diabetes-related PHH in Hawai‘i ( N = 22) were assessed for health literacy and social network membership (“alters”). Results Sixty-nine percent of respondents were NHOPI. Three respondents (14%) had no alters (“isolates”). Among non-isolates, 79% desired the participation of at least one alter in chronic disease management-related interventions. Fifty-nine percent of respondents had low health literacy. While the mean number of alters did not vary significantly by health literacy, those with lower health literacy had a trend ( p = .055) towards less interest in social network engagement. Discussion In a sample primarily comprised of NHOPI with chronic disease, many patients wished to include social network members in interventions. Engagement varied by health literacy with implications for health disparities. Not all patients were interested in social network engagement, which must be considered in intervention planning.

Low health numeracy is associated with higher disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus

Lupus ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 096120332097904
Author(s):  
Mithu Maheswaranathan ◽  
Amanda M Eudy ◽  
Stacy C Bailey ◽  
Jennifer L Rogers ◽  
Megan EB Clowse
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Systemic Lupus ◽  
Health Numeracy ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Lower Health ◽  
Limited Health ◽  
Lower Health Literacy

Objective Evidence suggests low health literacy is prevalent in the United States and associated with worse clinical outcomes, yet few studies have investigated health literacy in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of low health literacy and numeracy in lupus patients and to examine its association with disease characteristics. Methods Patients with SLE were recruited from an academic center clinic. Participants completed in-person assessments of health literacy (Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine, REALM) and numeracy (Numeracy Understanding in Medicine Instrument Shortened Version, S-NUMi). Clinical disease activity measures were obtained, including urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPC), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and physician global assessment (PhGA) scores. Results Ninety-five SLE patients participated in the study; 13% had low health literacy and 73% had limited health numeracy. Patients with lower health literacy and numeracy were more likely to be Black, have Medicaid insurance, and earn income <$50 K annually. In linear regression models, patients with limited health numeracy had, on average, PhGA scores 0.31 points higher (95% CI: 0.02, 0.60) than patients with adequate numeracy, after adjusting for race and age. No clinical outcomes were associated with health literacy. Conclusion In this exploratory study, we found SLE patients with low numeracy had higher disease activity. Our findings indicate that lower health literacy and numeracy are more common among Black and socioeconomically disadvantaged patients. Additional research will be needed to investigate the impact of health literacy on other outcomes and racial disparities in SLE.

scholarly journals Health Literacy in the Canton of Zurich: First Results of a Representative Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (23) ◽  
pp. 12755
Author(s):  
Elena Guggiari ◽  
Rebecca Jaks ◽  
Fabian Marc Pascal Berger ◽  
Dunja Nicca ◽  
Saskia Maria De Gani
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
National Level ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Representative Study ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
First Results ◽  
Lower Health

Managing health information and services is difficult for nearly half of the population in Switzerland. Low health literacy has been shown to result in poorer health and health outcomes as well as a higher utilization of health services. To date, studies on health literacy in Switzerland have focused on a national level. However, Switzerland is a federal state with 26 cantons and a strongly decentralized health system. Therefore, the aim of this study is to understand how health literacy is distributed within the population of the canton of Zurich specifically, and to develop methods to determine whether an individual has a higher or lower level of health literacy. There were a total of 1000 participants in this representative study. Data was collected by an adapted version of the HLS-EU-Q47 and additional sociodemographic questions. The majority (56%) of the reported difficulties concerned accessing, understanding, appraising, and applying health information. The findings confirm that health literacy follows a social gradient, whereby financially deprived individuals and those with a low educational level report lower health literacy. The need for action to strengthen the health literacy of these population groups is therefore urgent. Interventions should pay particular attention to these vulnerable groups and tailor resolutions to their needs and preferences.

European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire--French Versions

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Rouquette ◽  
Théotime Nadot ◽  
Pierre Labitrie ◽  
Stephan Van den Broucke ◽  
Julien Mancini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Survey Questionnaire ◽  
Literacy Survey ◽  
European Health

scholarly journals Malaysian Health Literacy: Scorecard Performance from a National Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5813
Author(s):  
Norrafizah Jaafar ◽  
Komathi Perialathan ◽  
Manimaran Krishnan ◽  
Nurashma Juatan ◽  
Masitah Ahmad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Limited Health Literacy ◽  
Health Literacy Level ◽  
Prevention And Health Promotion ◽  
Literacy Level ◽  
Limited Health

Health literacy is an indicator of a society’s ability to make better health judgements for themselves and the people around them. This study investigated the prevalence of health literacy among Malaysian adults and provided an overall picture of the society’s current health literacy status, which has not been previously assessed. The study also highlighted socio-demographic markers of communities with limited health literacy that may warrant future intervention. A population-based self-administered survey using the Health Literacy Survey Malaysian Questionnaire18 (HLS-M-Q18) instrument was conducted as part of the National Health Morbidity Survey 2019 in Malaysia. The nationwide survey utilized a two-staged stratified random sampling method. A sample of 9478 individuals aged 18 and above, drawn from the living quarter list, participated in the study. The health literacy score was divided into three levels; limited, sufficient, and excellent. Findings showed a majority of the Malaysian population had a sufficient health literacy level in all three domains—healthcare, diseases prevention and health promotion (49.1%, 44.2%, and 47.5%, respectively)—albeit leaning towards the lower end of the category with an average score of 35.5. The limited health literacy groups were prevalent among respondents with older age (68%), lower education level (64.8%), and lower household income (49.5%). The overall health literacy status for Malaysia was categorized at a lower sufficiency level. Future health literacy improvements should focus on communities with a limited health literacy level to improve the overall score.

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