Health literacy and public health: A systematic review and integration of definitions and models

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Health literacy concerns the knowledge and competences of persons to meet the complex demands of health in modern society. Although its importance is increasingly recognised, there is no consensus about the definition of health literacy or about its conceptual dimensions, which limits the possibilities for measurement and comparison. The aim of the study is to review definitions and models on health literacy to develop an integrated definition and conceptual model capturing the most comprehensive evidence-based dimensions of health literacy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A systematic literature review was performed to identify definitions and conceptual frameworks of health literacy. A content analysis of the definitions and conceptual frameworks was carried out to identify the central dimensions of health literacy and develop an integrated model.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The review resulted in 17 definitions of health literacy and 12 conceptual models. Based on the content analysis, an integrative conceptual model was developed containing 12 dimensions referring to the knowledge, motivation and competencies of accessing, understanding, appraising and applying health-related information within the healthcare, disease prevention and health promotion setting, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Based upon this review, a model is proposed integrating medical and public health views of health literacy. The model can serve as a basis for developing health literacy enhancing interventions and provide a conceptual basis for the development and validation of measurement tools, capturing the different dimensions of health literacy within the healthcare, disease prevention and health promotion settings.</p

Using focused ethnography in psychological research

This chapter provides a basic introduction to ethnographic methodology and explores its implementation in settings relevant to psychologists, arguing that its use potentially can give researchers insight into human experiences that are otherwise diffi cult to access. After describing some of the basic tools of this methodology (such as participant observation, map-making, census, informal interview, and object- or photo-elicitation), the authors make a case for considering and using a number of the key features underlying this approach to research, including sustained contact, attention to place, pansensory investigation, and emergent theory generation. We then discuss how psychologists can engage with a concentrated version of ethnographic methodology—focused ethnography—and provide two brief examples to illuminate its practical use

Using focused ethnography in psychological research

This chapter provides a basic introduction to ethnographic methodology and explores its implementation in settings relevant to psychologists, arguing that its use potentially can give researchers insight into human experiences that are otherwise diffi cult to access. After describing some of the basic tools of this methodology (such as participant observation, map-making, census, informal interview, and object- or photo-elicitation), the authors make a case for considering and using a number of the key features underlying this approach to research, including sustained contact, attention to place, pansensory investigation, and emergent theory generation. We then discuss how psychologists can engage with a concentrated version of ethnographic methodology—focused ethnography—and provide two brief examples to illuminate its practical use

SARS-CoV-2 environmental contamination from hospitalised patients with COVID-19 receiving aerosol-generating procedures

Background&nbsp;Continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) and high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) are considered &lsquo;aerosol-generating procedures&rsquo; in the treatment of COVID-19. Objective&nbsp;To measure air and surface environmental contamination with SARS-CoV-2 virus when CPAP and HFNO are used, compared with supplemental oxygen, to investigate the potential risks of viral transmission to healthcare workers and patients. Methods&nbsp;30 hospitalised patients with COVID-19 requiring supplemental oxygen, with a fraction of inspired oxygen &ge;0.4&thinsp;to maintain oxygen saturation &ge;94%, were prospectively enrolled into an observational environmental sampling study. Participants received either supplemental oxygen, CPAP or HFNO (n=10 in each group). A nasopharyngeal swab, three air and three surface samples were collected from each participant and the clinical environment. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses were performed for viral and human RNA, and positive/suspected-positive samples were cultured for the presence of biologically viable virus. Results&nbsp;Overall 21/30 (70%) participants tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the nasopharynx. In contrast, only 4/90 (4%) and 6/90 (7%) of all air and surface samples tested positive (positive for E and ORF1a) for viral RNA respectively, although there were an additional 10 suspected-positive samples in both air and surfaces samples (positive for E or ORF1a). CPAP/HFNO use or coughing was not associated with significantly more environmental contamination than supplemental oxygen use. Only one nasopharyngeal sample was culture positive. Conclusions&nbsp;The use of CPAP and HFNO to treat moderate/severe COVID-19 did not appear to be associated with substantially higher levels of air or surface viral contamination in the immediate care environment, compared with the use of supplemental oxygen.</p