Critical health literacy: conceptualization and settings-based development

Background Health literacy is conceptualized as a continuum of social practices spanning functional, interactive and critical domains. Critical health literacy enables individuals and communities to reflect on the wider health determinants and engage in social and political processes towards health equity. This project introduces the Oxford Bibliographies (OB) entry and illustrates through an empirical case study of critical health literacy in a community-based setting. Methods The OB entry provides a literature review of critical health literacy conceptualization, measurement and interventions. An institutional ethnography of critical health literacy in libraries, models a settings-based approach to critical health literacy development in children. Results Barriers to critical health literacy development include the lack of validated instruments and evaluation of interventions. Common settings for development with children are schools, but institutional settings face challenges in developing the political action element of critical health literacy. There is a need to move beyond single settings to consider multiple settings working in partnership where children can learn, live, and play. A coordinated supersetting approach leverages the strengths of different settings to promote critical health literacy. A model proposes four antecedents to a supersetting in which sub-settings collectively support (1) a determinants-based perspective, (2) open access to information and resources, (3) involvement of community stakeholders and (4) informed action on health. Conclusions Although conceptualized over two decades ago, it is only recently that research on critical health literacy has normalized the consolidation of both its cognitive and social dimensions into a joint strategy of critical thinking and empowerment. A supersetting approach can combine community-based and school-based support to embed critical health literacy development opportunities early in the life course

Tort Liability of the State Highway Commissioners

Tort Liability of the State Highway Commissioner

Tort Liability of the State Highway Commissioners

Tort Liability of the State Highway Commissioner

The effects of space radiation on a chemically modified graphite-epoxy composite material

The effects of the space environment on the engineering properties and chemistry of a chemically modified T300/934 graphite-epoxy composite system are characterized. The material was subjected to 1.0 x 10 to the 10th power rads of 1.0 MeV electron irradiation under vacuum to simulate 30 years in geosynchronous earth orbit. Monotonic tension tests were performed at room temperature (75 F/24 C) and elevated temperature (250 F/121 C) on 4-ply unidirectional laminates. From these tests, inplane engineering and strength properties (E sub 1, E sub 2, Nu sub 12, G sub 12, X sub T, Y sub T) were determined. Cyclic tests were also performed to characterize energy dissipation changes due to irradiation and elevated temperature. Large diameter graphite fibers were tested to determine the effects of radiation on their stiffness and strength. No significant changes were observed. Dynamic-mechanical analysis demonstrated that the glass transition temperature was reduced by 50 F(28 C) after irradiation. Thermomechanical analysis showed the occurrence of volatile products generated upon heating of the irradiated material. The chemical modification of the epoxy did not aid in producing a material which was more radiation resistant than the standard T300/934 graphite-epoxy system. Irradiation was found to cause crosslinking and chain scission in the polymer. The latter produced low molecular weight products which plasticize the material at elevated temperatures and cause apparent material stiffening at low stresses at room temperature

Differences in clinicopathologic variables between Borrelia C6 antigen seroreactive and Borrelia C6 seronegative glomerulopathy in dogs.

BackgroundRapidly progressive glomerulonephritis has been described in dogs that seroreact to Borrelia burgdorferi, but no studies have compared clinicopathologic differences in Lyme-seroreactive dogs with protein-losing nephropathy (PLN) versus dogs with Borrelia-seronegative PLN.Hypothesis/objectivesDogs with Borrelia C6 antigen-seroreactive PLN have distinct clinicopathologic findings when compared to dogs with Borrelia seronegative PLN.AnimalsForty dogs with PLN and Borrelia C6 antigen seroreactivity and 78 C6-seronegative temporally matched dogs with PLN.MethodsRetrospective prevalence case-control study. Clinical information was retrieved from records of dogs examined at the University of California, Davis, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Histopathologic findings in renal tissue procured by biopsy or necropsy of dogs with PLN were reviewed.ResultsRetrievers and retriever mixes were overrepresented in seroreactive dogs (P < .001). Seroreactive dogs were more likely to have thrombocytopenia (P < .001), azotemia (P = .002), hyperphosphatemia (P < .001), anemia (P < .001), and neutrophilia (P = .003). Hematuria, glucosuria, and pyuria despite negative urine culture were more likely in seroreactive dogs (all P ≤ .002). Histopathologic findings were consistent with immune-complex glomerulonephritis in 16 of 16 case dogs and 7 of 23 control dogs (P = 006). Prevalence of polyarthritis was not different between groups (P = .17).Conclusions and clinical importanceC6 seroreactivity in dogs with PLN is associated with a clinicopathologically distinct syndrome when compared with other types of PLN. Early recognition of this syndrome has the potential to improve outcomes through specific aggressive and early treatment

Involving Children in Health Literacy Research

Despite the volume and breadth of health literacy research related to children, children’s involvement in that research is rare. Research with children is challenging, but the principles of involvement and engagement underpin all health promotion work, including health literacy. This commentary reflects on the process of setting up a Children’s Advisory Group to consult on an institutional ethnography study of health literacy work from children’s standpoint. The Children’s Advisory Group contributed feedback on the study ethics and design and piloted methods for rapport-building and data collection, including livestreamed draw-and-describe and modified Interview to the Double. Consulting with the Children’s Advisory Group highlighted the importance of listening to children and recognizing and valuing children’s imaginative contributions to methods for involving children in health literacy research. Insights from this commentary can be used to foreground equity-focused approaches to future research and practice with children in the field of health literacy

Settings for the development of health literacy: A conceptual review

Advances in conceptualizing settings in health promotion include understanding settings as complex and interlinked systems with a core commitment to health and related outcomes such as health literacy. Traditional settings for the development of health literacy include health care environments and schools. There is a need to identify and conceptualize non-traditional and emerging settings of twenty-first-century everyday life. The aim of this conceptual review is to inform a conceptual model of a “non-traditional” setting for the development of health literacy. The model uses the example of the public library to propose four equity-focused antecedents required in a setting for the development of health literacy: the setting acknowledges the wider determinants of health, is open access, involves local communities in how it is run, and facilitates informed action for health. The review concludes that a settings approach to the development of health literacy can be conceptualized as part of a coordinated “supersetting approach,” where multiple settings work in synergy with each other