Defining, conceptualizing, and measuring health literacy as a necessary step towards improved health outcomes : a focus on skills needed to find health information

Health literacy is an individual’s ability to find, understand, use, and communicate about health information in an effort to make informed health decisions. Low health literacy is prevalent in the U.S., where an estimated one-third of adults are thought to have difficulty with health information; however, this is more prevalent among racial/ethnic minorities, those who did not finish high school, and older adults. Low health literacy is thought to predict poor health, which results in billions of dollars in healthcare expenditures annually. Despite the prevalence of and concerns related to low health literacy, existing frameworks and measures are incapable of capturing changes in health literacy. As such, the purpose of this dissertation was to develop a conceptual model based on an existing definition of health literacy. This four-facet approach depicts health literacy as a latent variable comprised of the four skill sets included in the definition. A two-phase study was created to determine the skills needed for an individual to successfully find health information, the first facet included in the four-facet approach. Patients and health professionals (N=40) were asked about the skills they thought were needed to find health information (Phase One). Through these interviews, seven skills themes emerged (Knowing When to Search, Credibility Assessments, Reading Ability, Finding Numerical Information, Interpersonal Seeking, Finding Health Information Online, and Spatial Navigation). Based on themes elicited in these interviews, a tool was created to measure items for each of these themes (Phase Two). This tool was administered through an online survey (N=331). Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to extract factors from Phase Two data. Phase Two factor data added that patients may need skills to scan paragraphical text (Text Within Text) and to extract information from nutrition labels (Labels) or from information with high amounts of medical jargon (Health Information Challenges). This two-phase methodological approach should be used in future studies to address the other three facets of health literacy. Ultimately, this will result in a measurement tool capable of reflecting changes in health literacy over time and areas in which intervention work is needed to produce improved health outcomes.Advertisin

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

Encouraging patients to talk with a physician about depression : the transition to a print medium

textMajor depression is a prevalent and harmful illness in the United States. About 7% of Americans experience depressive symptoms each year. Leaving depression untreated can result in poor general health and increased susceptibility to severe health risks such as suicide. Although there exists a variety of effective treatment methods for depression, the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2005-2006 reports that less than 30% of depressed individuals will be seen by a mental health care professional. It is essential that current efforts work toward encouraging depressed persons to seek treatment. A number of health promotion campaigns for mental health have tried reaching depressed individuals with little success. Created through a series of projects conducted with depressed men and women, Faces of Depression is a messaging strategy campaign that may prove highly effective with this audience. The campaign utilized video and computer program media in health clinic waiting areas to encourage patients with depressive symptoms to seek help from a primary care physician. These forms of media often capture attention; however, they also require many resources that may not be readily available at a health clinic. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether a cost-sensitive poster version of the Faces of Depression campaign would be an effective alternative to the original media. Undergraduate students completed an online survey concerning their willingness to discuss depression with a physician and their reactions to the health poster. Some had previously sought help from a mental health professional (33%), yet few had received treatment for depression (11%). However, 48% of the participants met the criteria for having current depressive symptoms. Although scores for the posters’ visual elements were low, the idea of the poster in a health clinic waiting area was well received by those currently depressed and non-depressed. Moreover, non-depressed persons were likely to indicate that they would seek help in response to the poster if experiencing depressive symptoms. The study is limited by poster design elements. Amendments to these aesthetic details would likely increase poster effectiveness. Future research should ensure that health promotion materials target those currently experiencing symptoms, especially men.Advertisin

Breaking Health Insurance Knowledge Barriers Through Games: Pilot Test of Health Care America

This article discusses the design and testing of an interactive newsgame about health insurance

Assessment of Safe Listening Intentional Behavior Toward Personal Listening Devices in Young Adults

Recreational noise-induced hearing loss (RNIHL) is a highly preventable disorder that is commonly seen in teenagers and young adults. Despite the documented negative effects of RNIHL, it is still challenging to persuade people to adopt safe listening behaviors. More research is needed to understand the underlying factors guiding listeners’ intentions to engage in safe listening habits. We used the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to identify attitudes, social norms, and behavioral control in 92 young adults toward two intentional behaviors related to safe listening habits while listening to their personal listening devices: (1) lowering the intensity of loud music, and (2) shortening the listening duration of loud music. Using a Qualtrics survey, the major factors of the TPB model as they relate to the participants’ intention to engage in risk-controlling behavior were assessed. Behavioral intentions to turn the music down and listen for shorter durations were thought to be predicted by the TPB factors (attitudes, social norms, and perceived behavioral control). Linear regression findings indicated that the overall TPB models were significant. Positive attitudes toward turning the music down and shortening the durations were significantly associated with intentions to engage in non-risky behavior, more so for the former behavior

How brand-cause fit shapes real world advertising messages: a qualitative exploration of ‘femvertising’

© 2019, © 2019 Advertising Association. Brand-cause fit, the concept that a brand and a social issue ‘pair’ together conceptually, has been a topic of great interest yet it is not fully understood due to inconsistent findings and limited theoretical development. In this study, we take a different approach to understanding brand-cause fit to explore how and in what ways ‘fit’ shapes advertising message strategies. A growing trend in advertising is ‘brand responsibility’, wherein a brand aligns itself with a social issue. A prominent focus of these messages is gender equality, namely, female empowerment. Advertisers utilize ‘femvertisements’ to emphasize their support of women. The motive behind this work is often called into question, given brands’ inherent desire to sell products. Advertisers should consider how brands ‘fit’ with specific social issues. Through a qualitative analysis of advertisements that received an award for femvertising, this study sheds light on the differences in message themes between brands with high versus low brand-cause fit, specifically target audience brand-cause fit, in an effort to further this literature and advertising practice. Five key messaging themes are elucidated among high-fit brands (overt femininity, fixing the self, being a girl is a hardship, actors on set, and let’s talk about it) and four themes among low-fit brands (low femininity, breaking stereotypes, reminders that women and men do the same activities, and getting men on board); which shape how women are depicted, the overall brand message, and the overall social issue message. Indeed, fit should be considered beyond simple high/low congruence. Implications for advertising practitioners and researchers are discussed

The Deaf Community's Experiences Navigating COVID-19 Pandemic Information

Background: Users of American Sign Language (ASL) who are deaf often face barriers receiving health information, contributing to significant gaps in health knowledge and health literacy. To reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its risk to the public, the government and health care providers have encouraged social distancing, use of face masks, hand hygiene, and quarantines. Unfortunately, COVID-19 information has rarely been available in ASL, which puts the deaf community at a disadvantage for accessing reliable COVID-19 information. Objective: This study's primary objective was to compare COVID-19–related information access between participants who are deaf and participants who are hearing. Methods: The study included 104 adults who are deaf and 74 adults who are hearing who had participated in a prior health literacy study. Surveys were conducted between April and July 2020 via video conference, smartphone apps, or phone calls. COVID-19 data were linked with preexisting data on demographic and health literacy data as measured by the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) and the ASL-NVS. Key Results: Neither group of participants differed in their ability to identify COVID-19 symptoms. Adults who are deaf were 4.7 times more likely to report difficulty accessing COVID-19 information (p = .011), yet reported using more preventive strategies overall. Simultaneously, adults who are deaf had 60% lower odds of staying home and calling their doctor versus seeking health care immediately or doing something else compared with participants who are hearing if they suspected that they had COVID-19 (p = .020). Conclusions: Additional education on recommended COVID-19 management and guidance on accessible health care navigation strategies are needed for the deaf community and health care providers. Public health officials should ensure that public service announcements are accessible to all audiences and should connect with trusted agents within the deaf community to help disseminate health information online in ASL through their social media channels