scholarly journals Cancer Cells Are Like Weeds: Use of Visual Analogies to Explain Cancer Treatments

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kara Lukasiewicz ◽  
Derek Ng ◽  
Gael McGill ◽  
Jodie Jenkinson
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
3D Animation ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Education Material ◽  
Low Health Literacy

Estimates are that more than 50% of adults living in NorthAmerica have low health literacy. Unfortunately, much ofthe available health education material is written at agrade level that most people don’t understand. Tofacilitate understanding, a 3D animation was created toexplain cancer treatment options using analogiesbetween cancer cells and weeds. The goal is to createeducational material that people of all levels of healthliteracy can understand and learn from.

scholarly journals Elder Health Literacy

2004 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorraine Wallace
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Elderly Care ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
The Public ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Populations At Risk ◽  
Health Education Materials

The public health impact of limited literacy has begun to be explored. The elderly and those with limited formal education are often the most vulnerable populations at risk of having low health literacy. Health promotion specialists must be cognizant of the literacy demands of health education materials (e.g., pamphlets, questionnaires) distributed to the elderly. Care must be taken to ensure that health education materials are both linguistically and culturally appropriate for whom they are intended.

Health Information Preferences of Parents in a Pediatric Emergency Department

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 519-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam M. Drent ◽  
David C. Brousseau ◽  
Andrea K. Morrison
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Pediatric Emergency ◽  
General Information ◽  
Education Material ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Health Literacy Level

Parents of children seeking nonurgent care in the emergency department completed surveys concerning media use and preferences for health education material. Results were compiled using descriptive statistics, compared by health literacy level with logistic regression, adjusting for race/ethnicity and income. Semistructured qualitative interviews to elicit reasons for preferences, content preference, and impact of health information were conducted and analyzed using content analysis. Surveys (n = 71) showed that despite equal access to online health information, parents with low health literacy were more likely to use the internet less frequently than daily ( P < .01). Surveys and interviews (n = 30) revealed that health information will be most effective when distributed by a health care professional and must be made available in multiple modalities. Parents requested general information about childhood illness, including diagnosis, treatment, and signs and symptoms. Many parents believed that appropriate health information would change their decision-making regarding seeking care during their child’s next illness.

Health literacy is a barrier to shared decision making in early prostate cancer (PCA) among African American (AA) men.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (7_suppl) ◽  
pp. 84-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Martin-Doyle ◽  
Christopher Paul Filson ◽  
Susan Regan ◽  
Quoc-Dien Trinh ◽  
Sierra Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
African American ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Shared Decision Making ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Treatment Choices

84 Background: ASCO, AUA, ASTRO and SUO endorse shared decision making for men with localized PCa. We explored treatment decisions among providers and their AA patients (pts) in a prospective cohort study at Grady Memorial Hospital and the Atlanta Veterans Administration Hospital. Methods: Following their visit, 18 providers documented the PCa treatment options they had discussed with 124 newly diagnosed, early-stage, African American PCa pts. At a subsequent visit, prior to choosing their cancer treatment, pts were asked to name the options they had discussed with their provider. Demographics were collected. Health literacy was measured using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM). Numeracy, comprehension of common PCa terms, and anatomic knowledge were assessed using published methods (Kilbridge K, et al. J Clin Oncol 27:2015-2021, 2009). Chi-square, t-tests and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify variables associated with correct understanding of treatment choices. Results: Just 23.4% of pts correctly understood their treatment options. In univariate analysis, only health literacy was statistically significantly associated with comprehension of PCa treatment options (p < 0.05). In a multivariate logistic model adjusting for age, education, income, numeracy, comprehension of common PCa terms, and anatomic knowledge; health literacy remained the only significant predictor of pts’ comprehension of their treatment choices (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.2-11.9, p = 0.021). Even among the 49 pts with the highest level of health literacy, only 34.7% correctly understood their cancer treatment options (compared to 16.0% among low literacy patients). Conclusions: Successful shared decision making requires pts to understand their treatment choices. Information presented by healthcare providers may be overwhelming for newly diagnosed pts, particularly those with lower health literacy. Our study suggests that even pts with the highest level of health literacy may need additional support to understand their PCa treatment options.

scholarly journals A pilot test of the acceptability and efficacy of narrative and non-narrative health education materials in a low health literacy population

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan Bridgid Moran ◽  
Lauren B. Frank ◽  
Joyee S. Chatterjee ◽  
Sheila T. Murphy ◽  
Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Pilot Test ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Health Education Materials

Health literacy, information provision and satisfaction in advanced cancer consultations: two observational studies using level of education as a proxy

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjspcare-2020-002859
Author(s):  
Liesbeth M van Vliet ◽  
Janneke Noordman ◽  
Marit Mijnlieff ◽  
Ruud Roodbeen ◽  
Gudule Boland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Disease Status ◽  
Information Provision ◽  
Anticancer Therapy ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Health Literacy Level ◽  
Anticancer Treatment

ObjectivesPatients with low health literacy (LHL) might feel less informed and satisfied with provided information than patients with high health literacy (HHL). In the setting of advanced cancer, we explored whether LHL patients, compared with HHL patients are: (1) often less informed, and (2) less satisfied with clinicians’ communication (a) in general and (b) following information provision specifically.MethodsData from two observational studies using recorded consultations were combined. Clinicians’ provided information and patients’ health literacy level—defined by educational levels—and satisfaction were measured. Χ2 tests and regression (moderation) analyses assessed the relation between health literacy and information provision, and between information provision and satisfaction, meanwhile exploring moderating influences of health literacy.ResultsOf 61 included patients, 25 (41%) had LHL. LHL and HHL patients were equally seldom informed about the disease’s incurability (36% vs 42%, p=0.66). LHL patients were more often informed about the option of not pursuing anticancer therapy than HHL patients (28% vs 8%, p=0.04). LHL patients were more satisfied with clinicians’ communication than HHL patients (M=9.3 vs M=8.5, p=0.03), especially when the option of no anticancer treatment was discussed (p=0.04). Discussing the disease’s incurability did not influence satisfaction levels (p=0.58) for LHL and HHL patients.ConclusionsLHL patients were not less informed, yet more satisfied than HHL patients. Both groups were equally seldom informed about the disease’s incurability. No anticancer therapy was mostly discussed with LHL patients who were more satisfied following this information. Clinicians should be encouraged to inform all patients about the disease status and (non)treatment options, while not overlooking empathic support.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Comprehensive Health Education Programming to Decrease Cardiovascular Health Disparities: The Case of HeartSmarts

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 68
Author(s):  
Naa-Solo Tettey
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
New York ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Cardiovascular Health ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Comprehensive Health ◽  
Health Related

INTRODUCTION: Chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, affect African Americans at disproportionately higher rates due in part to low health literacy and a lack of comprehensive health education programs. PURPOSE: The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the effectiveness of HeartSmarts, a culturally tailored, comprehensive cardiovascular health education program, in improving cardiovascular health literacy. METHODS: Peer health educators were trained to deliver an extensive curriculum focused on cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. Upon completion, they delivered this curriculum in their churches and communities. Pre- and post-assessments were administered for blood pressure, weight, waist circumference, and knowledge of cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: Fourteen predominantly African American churches in New York City participated, and 199 participants completed the program. Participants experienced decreases in blood pressure and weight, improved their health-related behaviors, and significantly increased their knowledge of cardiovascular health. CONCLUSION: The HeartSmarts program demonstrates the effectiveness of using a comprehensive health education approach to help combat these issues. Programs that use strategies similar to HeartSmarts should be implemented for other health conditions to decrease health disparities.

Assessment of Canadian patient education material for oncology pharmaceutics

2020 ◽  
pp. 107815522096082
Author(s):  
Courtney van Ballegooie
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Patient Education ◽  
Reading Level ◽  
Plain Text ◽  
Patient Education Material ◽  
Education Material ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Integral Role ◽  
Canadian Patient

Introduction Health literacy is an individual’s ability to access, understand, and utilize information in order to create an informed decision regarding their health. Readability plays an integral role in health literacy as complex health information may be inaccessible to those with low health literacy. The aim of this study is to determine the readability of Canadian patient education material (PEM) for oncology related pharmaceutics. Methods Eighty PEMs from Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) and BC Cancer (BCC) were evaluated for their reading level using a Ford, Caylor, Sticht (FORCAST) analysis. Twenty therapies were then randomly selected and converted to plain text to be analyzed further using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) Index, the Coleman-Liau Index (CLI), and the Gunning Fog Index (GFI). Results Both PEMs from CCO and BCC were above the recommended reading level with PEMs from CCO, on average, requiring a higher reading level. Within the text, the section which describes side effects was found to be the most complex section of the representative PEMs from BCC. PEMs from BCC which described antibody-based therapies were, on average, more difficult to read than small molecule-based therapies regardless from which section the PEM was being analyzed. These observations were not seen in CCO PEMs. Conclusions Overall, online PEMs from major Canadian cancers associations were written above the recommended reading level. Consideration should be given to revision of these materials, with emphasis on the therapies’ side effects, to allow for greater comprehension amongst a wider target audience.

Screening for Delirium and Dementia in the Cancer Patient

2021 ◽  
pp. 137-145
Author(s):  
Christian Bjerre-Real ◽  
James C. Root ◽  
Yesne Alici ◽  
Julia A. Kearney ◽  
William S. Breitbart
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Cognitive Disorders ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Increase Risk ◽  
High Risk Populations

Cognitive syndromes are commonly encountered among cancer patients. Although aging is an important risk factor for cognitive disorders, in oncology settings there are additional risk factors, including primary or metastatic brain tumors, medical comorbidities, cancer treatments, and depression, that place all age groups at risk for cognitive syndromes. Delirium, a common cognitive syndrome among hospitalized cancer patients, has been shown to increase risk of long-term cognitive impairment. Dementia is a risk factor for delirium development as well. Patients with cognitive deficits may not be able to carry out activities of daily living, such as medication maintenance, food preparation, and transportation. Treatment adherence, vigilance in monitoring and reporting of cancer and cancer treatment–related symptoms, and the ability to make informed decisions on cancer treatment options necessitate intact cognitive functioning. Therefore, screening for cognitive syndromes among cancer patients is an important part of initial assessment, particularly in high-risk populations. This chapter will provide a comprehensive review of the screening and assessment measures used to identify and assess patients with delirium and dementia. A brief overview of common dementia syndromes is also included as relevant to psycho-oncologists caring for older adults with cancer.

scholarly journals The Premature Senescence in Breast Cancer Treatment Strategy

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Milczarek
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Response To Therapy ◽  
Premature Senescence ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Induced Stress

Cellular senescence is a permanent blockade of cell proliferation. In response to therapy-induced stress, cancer cells undergo apoptosis or premature senescence. In apoptosis-resistant cancer cells or at lower doses of anticancer drugs, therapy-induced stress leads to premature senescence. The role of this senescence in cancer treatment is discussable. First of all, the senescent cells lose the ability to proliferate, migrate, and invade. In addition, the senescent cells secrete a set of proteins (inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, growth factors) known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which influences non-senescent normal cells and non-senescent cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment and triggers tumor promotion and recurrence. Recently, many studies have examined senescence induction through breast cancer therapy and potentially using this phenomenon to treat this cancer. This review summarizes the recent in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies investigating senescence in breast cancer treatments. Senescence inductors, senolytics, as well as their action mechanism are discussed herein. Potential SASP-modulating treatment strategies are also described.

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