Health Literacy and Health Information Technology Adoption: The Potential for a New Digital Divide

This article discusses whether health literacy is associated with pateints' use of four types of health information technology (HIT) tools: fitness and nutrition apps, activity trackers, and patient portals

Domestic and International College Students: Health Insurance Information Seeking and Use

This article explores perceived barriers to using health insurance and identifies discriminant factors between health insurance information seekers and non-seekers

Using systems science to understand the determinants of inequities in healthy eating

Introduction: Systems thinking has emerged in recent years as a promising approach to understanding and acting on the prevention and amelioration of non-communicable disease. However, the evidence on inequities in non-communicable diseases and their risks factors, particularly diet, has not been examined from a systems perspective. We report on an approach to developing a system oriented policy actor perspective on the multiple causes of inequities in healthy eating. Methods: Collaborative conceptual modelling workshops were held in 2015 with an expert group of representatives from government, non-government health organisations and academia in Australia. The expert group built a systems model using a system dynamics theoretical perspective. The model developed from individual mind maps to pair blended maps, before being finalised as a causal loop diagram. Results: The work of the expert stakeholders generated a comprehensive causal loop diagram of the determinants of inequity in healthy eating (the HE2Diagram). This complex dynamic system has seven sub-systems: (1) food supply and environment; (2) transport; (3) housing and the built environment; (4) employment; (5) social protection; (6) health literacy; and (7) food preferences. Discussion: The HE2causal loop diagram illustrates the complexity of determinants of inequities in healthy eating. This approach, both the process of construction and the final visualisation, can provide the basis for planning the prevention and amelioration of inequities in healthy eating that engages with multiple levels of causes and existing policies and programs

Understanding the target audience : using demographics and theory to develop communication campaigns for bystander intervention initiatives

Bystander intervention initiatives are quickly becoming the preferred approach to reducing the high rates of sexual assault on college campuses across the United States. Although research on the effectiveness of bystander intervention is growing rapidly, little attention has been paid to how campus programs can best design strategic mediated communication campaigns to promote and support these efforts. Effective use of mass mediated communication campaigns can reach students who may not be inclined to attend bystander-related events and can begin to influence attitudes and beliefs associated with engaging in bystander behavior. The purpose of this study was to provide an evidence base for creating strategic campaigns that are grounded in theory. To that end, relevant theoretical factors drawn from the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) that may be associated with students engaging in bystander behavior were examined. Additionally, individual- and community-level demographics were explored to identify underlying factors that may contribute to differences in TPB beliefs. Findings and implications for communication campaigns are discussed, along with study limitations and opportunities for future research.Advertisin

Open science, communal culture, and women’s participation in the movement to improve science

Data used for work on the culture of open science in promoting diversity and women participation

Health Literacy and Health Information Technology Adoption: The Potential for a New Digital Divide

This article discusses whether health literacy is associated with pateints' use of four types of health information technology (HIT) tools: fitness and nutrition apps, activity trackers, and patient portals