Patient Advocacy and Health Literacy

2022 ◽  
pp. 23-42
Author(s):  
Susana Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Patient Advocacy ◽  
Patient Advocate ◽  
Advocacy Activity ◽  
First Results ◽  
A Priority

This chapter presents a reflective analysis based on the literature and on the author's experience regarding the challenges for health professionals and for patients within the scope of the patient advocacy activity, especially in Portugal, where the formal figure of the patient advocate is almost non-existent. Patient Associations, professionals, patients and their families, and citizens in general are unaware of this concept, making it a priority to invest in health literacy and to structure training programs in patient advocacy. The authors believe that there is still a long way to go in Portugal in this matter and that the model, Assertiveness, Clarity of Language, and Positivity (ACP), is an essential model for the entire patient advocacy development process and implementation of the patient advocate figure in the area healthcare. In this chapter, some experiences, projects and the first results of an exploratory study will be presented in order to help in improving the understanding and knowledge of these concepts in Portugal.

Māori Research(er) in Three Poems

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Jacquie Kidd
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Cultural Identity ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Bell Hooks ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Third ◽  
Ruth Behar ◽  
Seeking Help

These three poems re-present the findings from a research project that took place in 2013 (Kidd et al. 2018, Kidd et al. 2014). The research explored what health literacy meant for Māori patients and whānau when they accessed palliative care. Through face-to-face interviews and focus groups we engaged with 81 people including patients, whānau, bereaved loved ones, support workers and health professionals. The poems are composite, written to bring some of our themes to life. The first poem is titled Aue. This is a Māori lament that aligns to English words such as ‘oh no’, or ‘arrgh’, or ‘awww’. Each stanza of the poem re-presents some of the stories we heard throughout the research. The second poem is called Tikanga. This is a Māori concept that encompasses customs, traditions and protocols. There are tikanga rituals and processes that guide all aspects of life, death, and relationships. This poem was inspired by an elderly man who explained that he would avoid seeking help from a hospice because ‘they leave tikanga at the door at those places’. His choice was to bear his pain bravely, with pride, within his cultural identity. The third poem is called ‘People Like Me’. This is an autoethnographical reflection of what I experienced as a researcher which draws on the work of scholars such as bell hooks (1984), Laurel Richardson (1997) and Ruth Behar (1996). These and many other authors encourage researchers to use frustration and anger to inform our writing; to use our tears to fuel our need to publish our research.

scholarly journals Preoperative bariatric surgery programme barriers facing Pacific patients in Auckland, New Zealand as perceived by health sector professionals: a qualitative study

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e029525
Author(s):  
Tamasin Taylor ◽  
Wendy Wrapson ◽  
Ofa Dewes ◽  
Nalei Taufa ◽  
Richard J Siegert
Keyword(s):  
Bariatric Surgery ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Publicly Funded ◽  
Attrition Rates ◽  
Pacific Health ◽  
Emotional Safety ◽  
Minority Ethnic

Minority ethnic patient groups typically have the highest bariatric surgery preoperative attrition rates and lowest surgery utilisation worldwide. Eligible patients of Pacific Island ethnicity (Pacific patients) in New Zealand (NZ) follow this wider trend.ObjectivesThe present study explored structural barriers contributing to Pacific patients’ disproportionately high preoperative attrition rates from publicly-funded bariatric surgery in Auckland, NZ.SettingPublicly-funded bariatric surgery programmes based in the wider Auckland area, NZ.DesignSemi-structured interviews with health sector professionals (n=21) were conducted.Data were analysed using an inductive thematic approach.ResultsTwo primary themes were identified: (1) Confidence negotiating the medical system, which included Emotional safety in clinical settings and Relating to non-Pacific health professionals and (2) Appropriate support to achieve preoperative goals, which included Cultural considerations, Practical support and Relating health information. Clinical environments and an under-representation of Pacific staff were considered to be barriers to developing emotional safety, trust and acceptance of the surgery process with patients and their families. Additionally, economic deprivation and lower health literacy impacted preoperative goals.ConclusionsHealth professionals’ accounts indicated that Pacific patients face substantial levels of disconnection in bariatric surgery programmes. Increasing representation of Pacific ethnicity by employing more Pacific health professionals in bariatric teams and finding novel solutions to implement preoperative programme components have the potential to reduce this disconnect. Addressing cultural competency of staff, increasing consultancy times and working in community settings may enable staff to better support Pacific patients and their families. Programme structures could be more accommodating to practical barriers of attending appointments, managing patients’ preoperative health goals and improving patients’ health literacy. Given that Pacific populations, and other patients from minority ethnic backgrounds living globally, also face high rates of obesity and barriers accessing bariatric surgery, our findings are likely to have broader applicability.

The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR) Reduces Stress-Related Psychological Distress in Healthcare Professionals

2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 897-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés Martín-Asuero ◽  
Gloria García-Banda
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
The Other ◽  
Reduction Program ◽  
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

This semi-experimental study examines how Mindfulness facilitates a distress reduction in a group of health professionals. The sample comprises 29 professionals seeking stress reduction who undertook an 8 weeks psico-educative intervention, involving 28 hours of class, based on a program called Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction or MBSR. Results show a 35% reduction of distress, from percentile 75 to 45, combined with a 30% reduction in rumination and a 20% decrease in negative affect. These benefits lasted during the 3 months of the follow up period. The correlation analysis indicates that the decrease in distress is significantly related to the other two variables. These results confirm the effectiveness of MBSR to decrease distress and its applicability in training programs for health professionals.

Examination Of Health Literacy Levels Of Mothers: An Interdisciplinary Study With A Child Developmental Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (14) ◽  
pp. 35-44
Author(s):  
burçin aysu ◽  
Neriman ARAL ◽  
Fatih AYDOĞDU ◽  
Figen GÜRSOY
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Child Development ◽  
Normal Distribution ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Development Professionals ◽  
Development Perspective

Introduction and aim: When health literacy is considered in terms of family and especially mother, its importance increases even more. Because the health literacy of the mother and the health of the child are related to each other, the probability of the children of mothers with high health literacy to be healthy is also high. Considering this situation, it is emphasized that health literacy is an important concept for child development professionals, who are one of the health professionals working with children. Because child development professionals involve families and especially mothers in the process while working with children, health literacy can also affect mothers' involvement in the process. Determining the health literacy of mothers and handling it with a child development perspective; It is thought that it will also guide interdisciplinary research on health literacy. In this study, it is aimed to determine the health literacy of mothers and to discuss them with a child development perspective. Method: In the study, residing in Mamak district of Ankara were included 100 mothers. Mixed method was used in the research. Quantitative data were collected with the “Adult Health Literacy Scale”, and qualitative data were collected through the “Questionnaire Form”. Ethics committee approval was obtained before starting to collect data in the study. Afterwards, the participants were given detailed information about the research and consent forms were signed. The research was conducted on a voluntary basis. After the quantitative data were collected, they were processed into the SPSS package program, and whether the data showed normal distribution was examined with the kolmogrov smirnov test. Since the data showed a normal distribution, Anova and t tests, which are parametric tests, were used in the analysis of quantitative data. Qualitative data were analyzed by descriptive analysis method. Results: As a result of the research, it was found that the health literacy levels of the mothers differed significantly according to the variables of education level, education level of the spouse and having a chronic disease. It has been determined that mothers consult physicians for health issues, receive support from health professionals about their children's health problems, and explain the concept of health as physical, mental, social well-being and protection of health. Conclusions and recommendations: In line with the results obtained from the research; preparing early intervention programs as child developers to increase mothers' health literacy levels, conducting health literacy screening in clinical settings and including the assessment of mothers' health literacy in the child's assessment process, it may be recommended to plan studies involving fathers on health literacy.

scholarly journals Maximising health literacy and client recall of clinical information: An exploratory study of clients and speech-language pathologists

2010 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Friderike Schmidt Von Wûhlisch ◽  
Michelle Pascoe
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Cleft Lip ◽  
Treatment Effectiveness ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Speech Language Pathologists ◽  
Need To Evaluate ◽  
Language Pathology

Limited research has been carried out in the field of speech-language pathology with regard to ways of maximising health literacy and client recall. However, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) frequently provide vast amounts of information that clients need to understand, apply and review in order to manage their (or their child’s) health. This exploratory study aimed to contribute information about ways in which SLPs can overcome low health literacy and poor client recall so that treatment effectiveness is improved. A case-study design was used with specific focus on four clients receiving treatment for dysphagia, voice disorders (including laryngectomies) and cleft lip and/or palate management in Cape Town. Strategies which may be able to maximise health literacy and client recall of clinical information were trialled and evaluated by clients and their SLPs, using semi-structured interviews. The researchers proposed a combination of high-tech strategies which assisted in all the cases. No single solution or universal tool was found that would be appropriate for all. There is a need to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the combined strategies across a wider population, at different stages of rehabilitation and in diverse contexts. Implications and suggestions for future related research are presented.

scholarly journals Public recognition of mental disorders and beliefs about treatment: changes in Australia over 16 years

2012 ◽  
Vol 200 (5) ◽  
pp. 419-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola J. Reavley ◽  
Anthony F. Jorm
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Public Recognition ◽  
Similar Survey ◽  
Treatment Changes

BackgroundA 1995 Australian national survey of mental health literacy showed poor recognition of disorders and beliefs about treatment that differed from those of health professionals. A similar survey carried out in 2003/4 showed some improvements over 8 years.AimsTo investigate whether recognition of mental disorders and beliefs about treatment have changed over a 16-year period.MethodA national survey of 6019 adults was carried out in 2011 using the same questions as the 1995 and 2003/4 surveys.ResultsResults showed improved recognition of depression and more positive ratings for a range of interventions, including help from mental health professionals and antidepressants.ConclusionsAlthough beliefs about effective medications and interventions have moved closer to those of health professionals since the previous surveys, there is still potential for mental health literacy gains in the areas of recognition and treatment beliefs for mental disorders. This is particularly the case for schizophrenia.

Developments and perspectives of health literacy in Europe

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine Sørensen ◽  
Helmut Brand
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
The World ◽  
European Health ◽  
A Priority ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

Abstract A decade ago the European health literacy field was in its infancy. A comparable study among EU Member States was made to explore if health literacy was as much as a concern in Europe as elsewhere in the world. This article analyses the impact of the European Health Literacy project (2009–2012). Based on the outcomes new avenues for health literacy in Europe are proposed. In spite of progress there is still a strong call for actions to make health literacy a priority in the EU.

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