scholarly journals Outcomes and Critical Factors for Successful Implementation of Organizational Health Literacy Interventions: A Scoping Review

Author(s):  
Marise S. Kaper ◽  
Jane Sixsmith ◽  
Sijmen A. Reijneveld ◽  
Andrea F. de Winter

Organizational health literacy (OHL)-interventions can reduce inequality and demands in health care encountered by patients. However, an overview of their impact and critical factors for organization-wide implementation is lacking. The aim of this scoping review is to summarize the evidence on: (1) the outcomes of OHL-interventions at patient, professional and organizational levels; and (2) the factors and strategies that affect implementation and outcomes of OHL-interventions. We reviewed empirical studies following the five-stage framework of Arksey and O’Malley. The databases Scopus, PubMed, PsychInfo and CINAHL were searched from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2019, focusing on OHL-interventions using terms related to “health literacy”, “health care organization” and “intervention characteristics”. After a full-text review, we selected 24 descriptive stu-dies. Of these, 23 studies reported health literacy problems in relation to OHL-assessment tools. Nine out of thirteen studies reported that the use of interventions resulted in positive changes on OHL-domains regarding comprehensible communication, professionals’ competencies and practices, and strategic organizational changes. Organization-wide OHL-interventions resulted in some improvement of patient outcomes but evidence was scarce. Critical factors for organization-wide implementation of OHL-interventions were leadership support, top-down and bottom-up approaches, a change champion, and staff commitment. Organization-wide interventions lead to more positive change on OHL-domains, but evidence regarding OHL-outcomes needs strengthening.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Bremer ◽  
Izumi Klockmann ◽  
Leonie Jaß ◽  
Martin Härter ◽  
Olaf von dem Knesebeck ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Organizational health literacy (OHL) aims to respond to the health literacy needs of patients by improving health information and services and making them easier to understand, access, and apply. This scoping review primarily maps criteria characterizing health literate health care organizations. Secondary outcomes are the concepts and terminologies underlying these criteria as well as instruments to measure them. Methods The review was carried out following the JBI Manual on scoping reviews. The databases CINAHL, Cochrane Library, JSTOR, PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, and Wiley Online Library were searched in July 2020. Three researchers screened the records and extracted the data. The results were synthesized systematically and descriptively. Results The literature search resulted in 639 records. After removing duplicates, screening by title and abstract, and assessing full-texts for eligibility, the scoping review included 60 publications. Criteria for OHL were extracted and assigned to six main categories (with 25 subcategories). The most prevalent topic of organizational health literacy refers to communication with service users. Exemplary criteria regarding this main category are the education and information of service users, work on easy-to-understand written materials as well as oral exchange, and verifying understanding. The six main categories were defined as 1) communication with service users; 2) easy access & navigation; 3) integration & prioritization of OHL; 4) assessments & organizational development; 5) engagement & support of service users, and 6) information & qualification of staff. The criteria were based on various concepts and terminologies. Terminologies were categorized into four conceptual clusters: 1) health literacy in various social contexts; 2) health literate health care organization; 3) organizational behavior, and 4) communication in health care. 17 different assessment tools and instruments were identified. Only some of the toolkits and instruments were validated or tested in feasibility studies. Conclusions Organizational health literacy includes a significant number of distinct organizational criteria. The terminologies used in the OHL literature are heterogeneous based on a variety of concepts. A comprehensive, consensus-based conceptual framework on OHL is missing.


2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 611-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmela Annarumma ◽  
Rocco Palumbo

Parker, Ratzen and Lurie (2003) pointed out that a silent epidemic is affecting the health status of the American population, namely poor health literacy. Actually, inadequate health literacy is the main cause of the patients’ inability to navigate the health care environment, paving the way for inappropriateness in the provision of care as well as for poor health outcomes. Moreover, it has been esteemed that a third of the European population is not able to properly understand, process and use health information (HLS-EU Consortium, 2012). The same issue has been identified in several Asian countries (see, for example, Nakayama et al., 2015; Pednekar, Gupta & Gupta, 2011). What is striking is that—until today—the attention has been focused on the individual determinants of low health literacy, while studies concerning the organizational health literacy—that is to say, the ability of health care organization to establish friendly and comfortable relationships with the patients—are uncommon (Weaver, Wray, Zellin, Gautam & Jupka, 2012). This article is aimed at exploring the way health care organizations deal with patients living with inadequate health literacy. Drawing on the prevailing literature (Brach et al., 2012; DeWalt et al., 2013; Matthews & Sewell, 2002; Murphy-Knoll, 2007; Stableford & Mettger, 2007) the main approaches to improve organizational health literacy are examined. Then, a distinction between formal and informal tools to address organizational health literacy is suggested and the effectiveness of both of them is compared. The findings of the research suggest that informal tools are more common than formal tools, even though the former have lower perceived effectiveness as compared with the latter. Health care organizations seem to be still far from effectively activating comprehensive organizational health literacy pathways. There is a desperate need for systemic efforts to enhance the awareness of organizational health literacy and to encourage processes of change towards health literate organizational environments.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Pelikan ◽  
P Nowak

Abstract Background The European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU) demonstrated that in many European countries a considerable proportion of the population has limited health literacy (HL), that there is a social gradient for HL and that HL is associated with use of health services. Furthermore research mostly from the US also showed that HL of patients has detrimental effects not only on use but also on outcomes of health care. Therefore in the US the concept of the Health Literate Health Care Organization (HLHCO) has been developed by IOM to make health services more sensitive to the needs of patients with limited HL. Methods Based on the IOM concept, a more comprehensive model of a Health Literate Health Care Organization fulfilling criteria of WHÓs health promoting setting approach has been developed. A set of standards and indicators according to quality management criteria (ISQUA) to measure the organizational HL of a hospital has been constructed, tested and validated in 9 different kinds of hospitals by a team in Vienna. This model and measurement tool has been translated to English and other languages and been used and validated also in other countries (Belgium, Italy, Taiwan). By an international working group of the international Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services network an international version of the model and tool has been developed and will be tested in different countries. Results The model and self-assessment tool has been demonstrated to be acceptable, feasibly, valid and useful to start self-assessment and improvement of organizational HL in different types of hospitals and health care systems. Conclusions Organizational HL of health services matters for use and quality of health care of patients. Measuring organizational HL of hospitals by a validated instrument can support development of a more health literate health care organization and by that improve quality of care and tackle the health gap. Key messages Health literacy matter for health care and can be measured and improved on a personal and on an organizations or systems level to improve quality of care and tackle the health gap. A model and self-assessment instrument to measure organizational health literacy of hospitals has been developed and validated to support hospitals to improve their organizational health literacy.


Author(s):  
Katharina Rathmann ◽  
Theres Vockert ◽  
Lorena Denise Wetzel ◽  
Judith Lutz ◽  
Kevin Dadaczynski

To date, studies on individual and organizational health literacy (OHL) in facilities for people with disabilities are scarce. Thus, the aims of this study are (1) to adapt an existing instrument for measuring organizational health literacy (OHL), namely, the “Health literate health care organization scale” (HLHO-10), to the context of facilities for people with disabilities, (2) to quantitatively examine characteristics of OHL, and (3) to qualitatively assess the definition and role of OHL by interviewing managers and skilled staff. An online study in Germany with N = 130 managers and skilled staff in facilities for people with disabilities was conducted, using the adapted HLHO-10 questionnaire. Univariate analyses were applied. Qualitative content analysis was used to investigate interview data from N = 8 managers and skilled staff from N = 8 facilities for people with disabilities in Hesse, Germany. Quantitative results revealed that respondents reported a below-average level in HLHO-10, with the lowest level found in the attribute of participative development of health information. The qualitative findings showed a clear need for improved navigation to and in facilities. The quantitative and qualitative findings are mainly consistent. Future research and measures should focus on facilities for people with disabilities in order to strengthen the development of and access to target-group-specific health information, as well as to establish a health-literate working and living environment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 788-804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Wray ◽  
Nancy Weaver ◽  
Prajakta Adsul ◽  
Kanak Gautam ◽  
Keri Jupka ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate a collaborative effort between a health care organization and academic institution to strengthen organizational health literacy. Design/methodology/approach The intervention took place at a rural, federally qualified health clinic in Missouri between May 2009 and April 2011. Qualitative interviews of key informants were conducted before (n=35) and after (n=23) the intervention to examine program implementation and success in effecting organizational change. Findings Intervention activities helped establish a comprehensive understanding of health literacy. The project achieved moderate, fundamental and sustainable organizational change. The program successfully integrated health literacy practices into clinic systems and garnered leadership and organizational commitment, helped the workforce improve interpersonal communication and embedded practices making health education materials more accessible. Originality/value The study points to programmatic, conceptual and methodological challenges that must be addressed for organizations to improve health literacy practices, and suggests change management strategies to advance organizational health literacy.


1993 ◽  
Vol 32 (04) ◽  
pp. 265-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Essin

AbstractLoosely structured documents can capture more relevant information about medical events than is possible using today’s popular databases. In order to realize the full potential of this increased information content, techniques will be required that go beyond the static mapping of stored data into a single, rigid data model. Through intelligent processing, loosely structured documents can become a rich source of detailed data about actual events that can support the wide variety of applications needed to run a health-care organization, document medical care or conduct research. Abstraction and indirection are the means by which dynamic data models and intelligent processing are introduced into database systems. A system designed around loosely structured documents can evolve gracefully while preserving the integrity of the stored data. The ability to identify and locate the information contained within documents offers new opportunities to exchange data that can replace more rigid standards of data interchange.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-127
Author(s):  
Monika Raulinajtys-Grzybek ◽  
Renata Wachowicz ◽  
Arnold Maciejewski

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