Health Literacy

Author(s):  
Maria Theodosopoulou ◽  
Frank J. M. F. Dor ◽  
Daniel Casanova ◽  
Georgios Baskozos ◽  
Vassilios Papalois

Organ shortage is a worldwide persisting problem, as patients on waiting lists increase while actual donors cannot meet the demand for organs. Cultural and religious concerns, gaps of information, lack of medical procedure awareness and of understanding transplant-related terminology are some reasons why people refuse to donate organs. The medical, ethical, social, cultural, religious aspects of deceased organ donation (DOD) bring out the need for a systematic agenda of lifelong learning public awareness raising and health literacy on this issue. This chapter presents findings of a comparative research project in three European countries about how people learn about DOD and their suggestions for systematically promoting health literacy. A total sample of 1309 medical students, renal patients, and hospital administrative staff participated in a survey regarding attitudes, knowledge, sources of information, and communication about DOD. In addition, 51 participants took part in focus groups elaborating on their experiences and suggestions regarding health literacy about DOD.

2022 ◽  
pp. 122-133
Author(s):  
Maria Theodosopoulou ◽  
Zoe-Athena Papalois ◽  
Lisa Aufegger ◽  
Giorgos Baskozos ◽  
Frank J. M. F. Dor ◽  
...  

The organ shortage and the increasing demand for organs are universal, worldwide challenges. Health literacy is a powerful tool that can help to increase awareness about organ donation and transplantation on a large scale and to encourage and sustain support for organ donation. The unique perspectives, experiences, and expectations of medical students, renal patients, and hospital administrative staff across the UK, Netherlands, and Spain on the topic of health literacy (HL) campaigns regarding deceased organ donation (DOD) were recorded in a cross-cultural, qualitative study. Focus group discussions enabled participants to express their views on existing HL campaigns and to propose novel pathways for future campaigns.


Author(s):  
Tetyana Bozhko

The relevance of this publication is linked to the constant expansion of the range of packing products offered to the consumer market and the need to ensure the communicative function of packaging that embodies the dual requirements, one of which is the need for assimilation products to existing trade row, and the other - the selection of merchandise goods number by packing. The goal is to highlight all aspects of the problem associated with the communicative function of packaging products and outline the ways to solve them. Research Methodology: a tested method of complex analysis is introduced. It establishes the presence of domestic communicative aspects relevant to each of the above requirements and ways to implement them through the provision of a number of design techniques that can be guided by the designer in the implementation of project tasks. The scientific novelty is to identify all aspects of the communication requirements for packaging products and to establish conformity between each aspect and design methods that ensures their implementation. The advantages and disadvantages of each of the methods are considered in detail, namely: demonstration of images of the idealized consumer (advertising character) or the image of the idealized commodity producer; demonstration of hyperbolized consumer goods characteristics; accentuation of awards and signs of ecological safety; the dominance of typographic design and advertising block units over figurative elements; introduction of innovative and original shaping in packing designs. The importance of formulation of assortment of packaging products is separately highlighted, which represents a specific visual text - information that allows to trace the functional purpose of packaging and the presence of common and distinctive features. The studies have found that methods of demonstration images of idealized consumer (advertising character) or an idealized image producers meet the communication requirements such as: instant identification of goods, providing clear and unambiguous information about its content; the requirements for attracting attention through the visual images embodied in the packaging; creation of attractive communicative images from consciously active to accented-neutral. However, advertising characters are more likely to personally consciously active images. At the same time not all consumers are convinced of the perception of such an active position. The consideration of the mentality of such consumers makes it possible to resort to demonstration of images of the final product with hyperbolized consumer qualities. The use of such reception is the most common way of presenting food products under the conditions present in Slavic commodity markets and sometimes leads to the effect of over-supply of properties of such goods in an idealized form that loses communication product in real disposable bag. Obviously, the observation of differences between desired and available product features can lead only to a single act of purchase, and not contribute to the establishing the long-term relationships that can work for the nprestige and multiple acquisition of a proposed brand. Further, correlating techniques of sense formation with the communicative aspects of packaging products, the matching between the methods of emphasis of awards and signs of environmental safety requirements of trusted sources of information were found, that leads to the creation of the impression of reliability. Specific kind of project reception focused on building confidence in the source of information, creation of a correlation to such a source of impression of reliability is the introduction of TM with loud names such as "Our product", "Without GMOs". Names such as awards and environmental safety receive dominant positions in the system of information and communication elements of packaging products and focus on consumers' attention. The next communicative aspect of packaging products is the requirement to "tune" consumers into prolonged communication, to promote interest and willingness to acquire goods. Typically, the implementation of such a requirement is carried out through the introduction of font elements and their clear structuring with the help of a system of decorative planes, so-called "dies". Font alphabets, unlike realistic or photographic images, can most accurately tell about the properties of a product in each of the packaging volumes, explaining to the consumer what to expect from the product. The next project design, which also ensures the implementation of the above requirement, is the original formulation that is executed on the basis of standardized structural elements provided that there is a clear interaction between the constructive and graphic solutions of the packaging products. Consequently, the more noticeable the allocation of packaging in the cell to the same of a similar kind is, the better the process of forming factor is worked out. Of course, informational and communicative elements do not lose their significance in this case, but their design must be logically subordinated to the constructive properties of the form of detection. Conclusions: Tasks for the design of packaging products include the professional use of professional techniques of graphic design that make it possible to implement dualistic-oriented requirements. A specific feature of the use of such techniques is the refusal to follow the compositional schemes and plastic-shaped characteristics of the communicative elements of the already sold packaging products. Instead, resistance rests on the content fulfillment of each of the techniques which allows to implement an individualized approach to each of the projected packaging. The study shows the influence and significance of each of the communicative aspects that are considered in detail through a comprehensive analysis


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-83
Author(s):  
Caroline S. Clauss-Ehlers ◽  
Maria Guevara Carpio ◽  
Mark D. Weist

Background: Adolescence is defined by key transitional elements which are considered within a cross-cultural context. The importance of building mental health capacity for adolescents in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as well as high-income countries (HICs) is reviewed. Objectives: To review the developmental period of adolescence, global needs for mental health promotion, the needs of LMICs while emphasizing building adolescent mental health capacity, and the importance of efforts to promote mental health literacy. Methods: Mental health literacy (MHL) is presented as a strategy that can increase public awareness regarding mental health issues among adolescents. Increased awareness through an MHL framework is discussed as a way to build adolescent mental health capacity; with this work ideally occurring through global communities of practice (COP), dialogue, collaboration, and mutual support that aim to build innovation in systems of mental health promotion. Results: The authors review structural components in research, practice, and policy that seek to build global adolescent mental health capacity, nested within COPs involving HICs and LMICs working together to advance mental health promotion for children, adolescents, and young people. Conclusion: The article concludes with a discussion of how the three structural components (i.e., research, practice, and policy) can address gaps in the provision of global mental health services for adolescents to meet adolescent mental health needs in LMICs and HICs. A multi-sectoral approach emphasizing a global COP is presented as a way to scale up capacity and maximize outcomes.


Author(s):  
Yolanda Rodríguez-Castro ◽  
Rosana Martínez-Román ◽  
Patricia Alonso-Ruido ◽  
Alba Adá-Lameiras ◽  
María Victoria Carrera-Fernández

Background: Within the context of the widespread use of technologies by adolescents, the objectives of this study were to identify the perpetrators of intimate partner cyberstalking (IPCS) in adolescents; to analyze the relationship between IPCS and gender, age, sexting behaviors, pornography consumption, and ambivalent sexism; and to investigate the influence of the study variables as predictors of IPCS and determine their moderating role. Methods: Participants were 993 Spanish students of Secondary Education, 535 girls and 458 boys with mean age 15.75 (SD = 1.47). Of the total sample, 70.3% (n = 696) had or had had a partner. Results: Boys perform more sexting, consume more pornographic content, and have more hostile and benevolent sexist attitudes than girls. However, girls perpetrate more IPCS than boys. The results of the hierarchical multiple regression indicate that hostile sexism is a predictor of IPCS, as well as the combined effect of Gender × Pornography and Benevolent Sexism × Sexting. Conclusions: it is essential to implement sexual affective education programs in schools in which Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are incorporated so that boys and girls can experience their relationships, both offline and online, in an egalitarian and violence-free way.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-20
Author(s):  
Endang Winarsih ◽  
Asyarif Khalid ◽  
Forene Yenjeni

In an effort to maximize Taxpayer Compliance, the Directorate General of Taxation always optimizes services so as to increase public awareness of orderliness as taxpayers, one way to do tax reform is to utilize information and communication technology by implementing e-filing systems. This research is a Mix Method research in which research combines two research methods at the same time, qualitative and quantitative. The purpose of this study is to determine the Effectiveness of the Use of E-Filing in the Framework of Improving Compliance Reporting the Obligatory Annual Notification of Individuals. The results of this study indicate that the use of e-filing has been successful in increasing the compliance of individual taxpayers by increasing the annual tax return report of individual taxpayers. Taxpayers find it easy to report their annual tax returns by using e-filing. In addition, taxpayers are aware of their obligations as taxpayers. However, there are some obstacles in implementing e-filing, namely the lack of knowledge of taxpayers and the difficulty of convincing taxpayers to use e-filing effectively and efficiently.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 392-408
Author(s):  
Sasha A. Fleary ◽  
Patrece Joseph

Objective: Adolescents assume increased responsibility for their health, particularly regarding health decision-making for lifestyle behaviors. Prior research suggests a relationship between health literacy (HL) and health behaviors in adolescents. Yet, the specific role of HL in adolescents' health decision-making is unclear. This study qualitatively explored adolescents' use of HL in their health decision-making. Methods: Six focus groups with adolescents (N = 37, Mage = 16.49, 86% girls) were conducted. Adolescents' responses to questions about their HL use were coded using thematic analysis. Results: Adolescents identified passive and active HL engagement and several individual (eg, future orientation, risk perception) and environmental (eg, access to resources/information, media) factors that influenced their use of HL in health decision-making. Feedback from others, subjective health, and ability to navigate multiple sources of information also determined adolescents' confidence in their HL skills. Conclusions: Our results support expanding the types of HL studied/measured in adolescents and provide insight on how HL can be leveraged to improve adolescents' health decision-making. Though there was no guiding theory for this study, results support using the Information-Motivation-Behavior Skills model to assess the HL/health decision-making relationship in adolescence.


Author(s):  
Selvia Katarina Waruwu ◽  
Agustina Simangunsong

Dental disease is one of the many health problems Complained of by the people of Indonesia. Dental health is a reflection of human health. Lack of knowledge and limited sources of information on oral health have the caused public awareness to maintain oral and dental health is still low .. The development of one of the fields of information technology namely artificial intelligence has been Widely applied in various fields of life. In this study, the dental and oral disease expert system uses the Dempster Shafer method to control inferences that Contain thought patterns and reasoning mechanisms used by experts in solving problems.


2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesley Stafford ◽  
Fiona Judd

Introduction:Little is known about patients' understanding of the causes, treatments, and implications of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). Clinical observation suggests that such health literacy is limited. We report on the perceptions of causes and treatment of GTD and its impact on fertility and reproductive outcomes.Methods:Cross-sectional analysis of 176 Australian women previously diagnosed with GTD (no longer receiving follow-up/treatment) recruited from a state-wide registry. Participants comprised 149 (85%) women with GTD who did not require chemotherapy and 27 (15%) women who required chemotherapy for malignancy or persistent molar disease. Data were collected from medical records and via self-report questionnaire.Results:Participants were 94 women (53%) with partial mole, 75 (43%) with complete mole, 4 (2%) with choriocarcinoma, and 3 (2%) with hydatidiform mole not otherwise specified. Mean (SD) age at diagnosis and time since diagnosis were 32.1 (6.3) and 4.7 (3.3) years, respectively. Chance/bad luck was the most endorsed cause (n = 146, 83%); 23 (13%) thought GTD was hereditary and 10 (6%) identified a chromosomal etiology. Between 24% and 32% were unsure of the role of alcohol/drugs, venereal diseases, smoking, pollution, contraceptives, and lowered immunity. Surgical/medical procedure (n = 127, 72%) and healthy diet (n = 53, 30%) were the most endorsed treatments. Between 18% and 23% were unsure of the treatment effectiveness of diet, vitamins, exercise, complementary therapy, and contraception. All women treated with chemotherapy understood the rationale thereof; 23 (85%) perceived chemotherapy to be successful, and 19 (70%) could name the agent. Few women perceived a negative impact on their fertility (n = 28, 16%); 52 (30%) were reluctant to conceive again and 100 (57%) questioned their ability to have healthy children. After diagnosis, 111 (63%) had at least 1 live birth.Conclusions:Notwithstanding limitations, this study is the largest of its type to date. These descriptive data enhance our understanding of patients' experience on GTD, highlight the scope of GTD health literacy, and may be useful for clinicians to adjust the content of their patient education.


2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1436-1443
Author(s):  
Matheus S. Gurgel do Amaral ◽  
Sijmen A. Reijneveld ◽  
Bas Geboers ◽  
Gerjan J. Navis ◽  
Andrea F de Winter

BackgroundHealth literacy, the ability to deal with information related to one’s health, is a predictor of health outcomes in CKD. However, research has not explored whether low health literacy predicts the onset of CKD.MethodsWe used data from participants of Lifelines, a prospective population-based cohort study of individuals living in The Netherlands, to assess the share of individuals with low health literacy by eGFR category, whether low health literacy is associated with CKD onset in the general population and in the subgroup of older adults, and whether established CKD risk factors mediate this association.ResultsIn the total sample of 93,885 adults (mean follow-up 3.9 years), low health literacy was more likely among individuals in worse eGFR categories, increasing from 26.4% in eGFR category 1 to 50.0% in category 5 (P=0.02). Low health literacy, compared with adequate health literacy, was associated with the onset of CKD in the total sample (3.0% versus 2.1%) and in the subgroup of older adults (13.4% versus 11.3%), with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.44 (95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.31 to 1.59) and 1.21 (95% CI, 1.04 to 1.41), respectively. After adjustment for sex, age, education, and income, health literacy was associated with CKD onset only in older adults (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.50). This association was mediated by hypertension and high body mass index (BMI) in the crude model, but only by BMI after adjustment (with BMI explaining 18.8% of the association).ConclusionsLow health literacy is a risk factor for CKD onset among older adults, which suggests that CKD prevention might benefit from strategies to address low health literacy.


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