Community Health Information Research Articles

Community and Facility Health Information System Integration in Malawi: A Comparison of Machine Learning and Probabilistic Record Linkage Methods

Community and Facility Health Information System Integration in Malawi: A Comparison of Machine Learning and Probabilistic Record Linkage Methods

Why the role of mHealth in allergy diagnosis and treatment adherence cannot be overlooked.

Allergic diseases-rhinitis and asthma-are the most common chronic conditions affecting adults. Traditional approaches to allergy diagnosis and treatment do not meet the health needs of all patients. Treatment adherence remains a challenge for physicians. The ubiquity of Internet access paired with limited in-person contact with medical personnel in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the potential of mHealth in communicating health information. BODY: The abundance of new applications dedicated to various medical specialties encourages reflection on the informed use of such tools. The paper takes a closer look at the potential of mHealth and presents conclusions of selected studies focusing on the use of good apps. The strength weakness opportunities threats analysis was used to illustrate the strengths of the mHealth strategy, as well as its advantages, limitations and areas in need of further development. The strength of mHealth depends on the quality and quantity of the collected patient data, its reliable processing, as well as publication of outcomes and conclusions from analyses. Therefore, it is necessary to promote the use of validated applications among patients, physicians and medical staff.

A systematic review of effective parent-adolescent sexual and reproductive health information communication in lower- and middle-income countries

Background: Parents play an important role in the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of their adolescents. Parent–adolescent SRH information communication is cardinal and is expected to improve SRH outcomes of adolescents.Aim: The aim of this systematic review was to search for effective SRH information communication interventions in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to inform the adaptation of parent–adolescent SRH information communication intervention.Method: This is the first phase of an explanatory sequential mixed method study. The systematic review was carried out by employing Joanna Briggs Institute software for reviews. Search sources included Cochrane Reviews Library, EMBASE, CINAHL, PubMed, OVID, Scopus, Web of Science and Science Direct. A systematic search strategy was formulated, making use of the key terms: adolescent, teenager, youth, parent, mother, father, caregiver, reproductive, sexual, health, information, communication and intervention.Results: Five articles met the inclusion criteria for full-text screening. The interventions included addressed sociodemographic covariates; parent–adolescent general communication; parental monitoring; parent–adolescent communication about sex-related topics; parent’s sexual communication skills; parent’s self-efficacy in sexual communication; parent’s responsiveness to sexual communication; communication frequency; quality of sex‑related communication and information-motivational-behavioural skills.Conclusion: Findings suggest that evidence-based SRH information communication interventions are effective in improving parent–adolescent SRH information communication to optimise safe SRH behaviour in LMICs.Contribution: This systematic review identified effective SRH information communication interventions in LMICs, which can form the basis of further qualitative exploration for adaptation of a culturally sensitive intervention in Ghana.

Health Care Providers' Readiness to Adopt an Interactive 3D Web App in Consultations About Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Qualitative Evaluation of a Prototype.

Comprehensive and appropriate health care provision to women and girls with female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) is lacking. Use of visuals in health care provider (HCP) consultations facilitates the communication of health information and its comprehension by patients. A web app featuring a 3D visualization of the genitourinary anatomy was developed to support HCPs in conferring clinical information about FGM/C to patients. The aim of this study was to explore HCP perspectives on the use of visuals in discussion about FGM/C with their patients as well as to obtain their feedback on whether an interactive 3D web app showing the genitourinary anatomy would be helpful in patient consultations about FGM/C, identifying key features that are relevant to their clinical practice. We evaluated the web app through a semistructured interview protocol with seven HCPs from various disciplines experienced in care for women and girls with FGM/C in migration-destination settings. Interviews were audio- and video-recorded for transcription, and were then analyzed thematically for contextualized data regarding HCPs' willingness to use a 3D web app visualizing anatomy in FGM/C consultations with patients. All but one of the seven participants expressed keen interest in using this web app and its 3D visuals of anatomy in FGM/C consultations with patients. Participants shared the common contexts for the use of visuals in health care for FGM/C and the concepts they are used to support, such as to help describe a patient's genitals after FGM/C and reinforce an understanding of clitoral anatomy, to illustrate the process of defibulation, or to explain the physiological effects of FGM/C. Participants also highlighted the benefit of using visuals that patients can relate to, expressing approval for the ability to customize the vulva by FGM/C subtype, skin tone, and complexity of the visual shown in the web app. Despite critiques that the visualization may serve to perpetuate idealistic standards for how a vulva should look, participants largely agreed on the web app's perceived usefulness to clinical practice and beyond. Evaluation of the web app developed in this study identified that digital tools with 3D models of the genitourinary anatomy that are accessible, informative, and customizable to any specific patient are likely to aid HCPs in communicating clinical information about FGM/C in consultations. Universal access to the web app may be particularly useful for HCPs with less experience in FGM/C. The app also prompts options for applications such as for personal use, in medical education, in patient medical records, or in legal settings. Further qualitative research with patients is required to confirm that adoption of the web app by HCPs in a consultation setting will indeed benefit patient care for women and girls with FGM/C.

Evaluation of the Design and Development of the HeLe Newborn Hearing Screening Tele-Audiology Systems for the Philippines.

There is increasing interest in innovation development and management in the Philippines, especially in the last decade. In the advocacy for universal hearing health, the HeLe, "Hearing for Life'' Research Program was implemented. HeLe developed novel telehealth technologies and field tested a proof-of-concept service delivery model to improve provision of newborn hearing screening and intervention services in the Philippines. As the HeLe research period concludes, this appraisal was organized to document and assess the health information technology systems of the HeLe. The evaluation follows the elements of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for evaluation of public health surveillance systems. It centers on the status of the eHealth-based components of the HeLe NHS interventions: HeLe NHS module in the Community Health Information Tracking System (CHITS) electronic medical records system, the Tele-Audiology module in National Telehealth System (NTS), and the HeLe NHS registry. The evaluation is based on interviews of key HeLe research staff and documentation review. The HeLe system has a stable, SQL-Server-based architecture. It is a secure, web-based system with clean separation of back-end database and front-end Web, using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology. Standardization of data via mapping ensures reliable, comparable measures. HeLe demonstrates that NHS data collected by the HeLe NHS device can be sent to, stored in, and extracted from the CHITS electronic medical record system and exchanged across platforms. Where actual patient and NHS data were available, this HeLe system is validated to be efficacious to capture and seamlessly exchange data across various eHealth platforms. These eHealth technologies are described to be at Technology Readiness Level 5, "technologies are validated in a relevant environment". The HeLe program, however, needs to address completeness in documentation as a standard practice, if only to ensure better management of risks introduced by novel eHealth systems in patient care. The CDC public health surveillance checklist used for this assessment is useful in identifying gaps in research management for the HeLe inventors. It is recommended to be incorporated to be standard and implemented early in the next iteration of the HeLe research. Overall, the HeLe technologies, in this initial stage of research, have achieved the purpose for which they were developed. As a novel technology-based NHS system, HeLe is a potentially powerful tool to assist in monitoring newborn hearing disease caseloads by community-based primary care clinics, NHS facilities, and hospitals that provide definitive medical services. As other health systems strengthening reforms take root in the Philippines, secure exchange of data electronically across the country would depend on sound technologies, including those used in hearing health. This paper can be instructive to the emerging research community in the eHealth and biomedical development space especially in resource-challenged settings. Likewise, lessons can reinforce institutional support from research agencies, clinicians, and state/ county or subnational health departments for policy and resource mobilization to better manage those identified with congenital hearing loss.

Assessment of consumer’s knowledge and practices on pesticide residues reduction in tomatoes in Mvomero, Morogoro region, Tanzania

Pesticides are important components of agricultural production but the consumption of crops treated with pesticides, even in small quantities, can accumulate in the human body and cause health problems. Therefore, consumers’ knowledge and practices on reduction of these residues is essential however, there is scant of information on consumers’ knowledge and practices on pesticide residues reduction in tomatoes in Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Mvomero District in Morogoro region among 280 randomly selected consumers. Questionnaires were administered through face-to-face interviews to assess knowledge and practices on the reduction of pesticide residues in tomatoes before consumption. Data were analyzed using SPSSTM version 20 to obtain descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that 64.6% of respondents know that pesticides can cause health effects of which, 41% are not sure of the specific health problem with few mentioning cancers. About 80% of respondents know that tomatoes sold in the market have pesticide residues. Majority of respondents (78.9%) believe that the pesticide residues in tomatoes disappear after cooking. Seventy-five percent of respondents reported that they know methods for reducing pesticide residues of which 66.8% reported to be reducing pesticide residues by washing with water. Generally, consumer’s knowledge on health effects and practices on reduction of pesticide residues before consumption was relatively poor. Hence, there is a need for improving knowledge on reducing pesticide residues in tomatoes using cost-effective methods that are applicable at the household level. Knowledge on the health effects of pesticide residues was significantly associated with having a mobile phone, reading newspapers, and attending training on pesticides and associated health effects. Therefore, phones, radio, and newspapers may be used as effective methods for communicating health information to the public.

How to effectively communicate health information on social media depending on the audience's personality traits: An experimental study in the context of organ donation in Germany

ObjectiveThe shortage of organs donated for transplantation is a global concern. Even though increasing awareness can boost organ donation registration rates (thus leading to a higher number of available organ transplants), public organ donation campaigns lack effectiveness and are rarely tailored to audiences. To further enhance the effectiveness of digital health (i.e., organ donation) communication, we assessed the perception of social media organ donation campaign strategies (i.e., transformational, informational, neutral) as a function of personality traits (i.e., Big Five). MethodData was collected through an online experiment with 1000 participants (i.e., German citizens between 18 and 70 years) who were recruited via Facebook and Prolific between Jun–Aug 2022. Perceived message effectiveness of the organ donation posts was measured on a 5-point Likert scale applying the AIDA model and consequently analyzed using multiple regression analyses. ResultsMessaging strategy applied in the social media campaigns served as a predictor for message effectiveness depending on the personality traits of the audience when controlling for demographics and donor status. Extraversion was positively associated with higher message effectiveness of the transformational post while neuroticism showed a significant positive association with informational content. Agreeableness was positively correlated with transformational as well as informational post effectiveness. Furthermore, higher perceived post effectiveness increased the likelihood to sign-up for further organ donation information. ConclusionOur results show that Instagram in Germany is an underleveraged but potentially effective platform to spread organ donation knowledge. Based on our results, we urge public health authorities to revisit and start tailoring their (digital) health (i.e., organ donation) campaigns to audiences (i.e., personality traits) to increase their effectiveness.

Patients' Individualized Care Perceptions and Health Literacy Using an Interactive App During Breast and Prostate Cancer Treatment: Two Parallel Randomized Controlled Trials.

The use of symptom management mobile apps can reduce patients' symptom burden during cancer treatment, but the evidence is lacking about their effect on care. Moreover, if patients' health literacy can be improved, it needs to be more rigorously tested. This study aimed to evaluate patients' perceptions of individualized care and health literacy using an interactive app in two randomized trials. Patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer (N = 149) and radiotherapy for prostate cancer (N = 150) were consecutively included and randomized into one intervention or control group. Outcome measures were Individualized Care Scale, Swedish Functional Health Literacy Scale, and Swedish Communicative and Critical Health Literacy Scale. In the breast cancer trial, no group differences were observed regarding individualized care or health literacy. Most patients had sufficient health literacy levels. In the prostate cancer trial, intervention group patients rated higher perceived individualized care regarding decision control at follow-up than the control group. Less than half had sufficient health literacy levels and intervention group patients significantly improved their ability to seek, understand, and communicate health information. Education level explained significant variance in health literacy in both trials. Using an interactive app can positively affect individualization in care and health literacy skills among patients treated for prostate cancer, although further research is warranted.

Evaluation on social media health information communication based on machine learning technology

AbstractSocial media is an important channel for information dissemination in today's society. All kinds of enterprises, political organization, social organizations, etc. release all kinds of information through social media. This article conducted research and analysis on information on social media and effectively managed it. Machine learning methods can effectively solve the problem of analyzing health information (HI) in social media, thereby improving analysis efficiency and accuracy. This article explored the dissemination of social media HI based on machine learning technology, elaborated on the analysis and research of social media HI dissemination, discussed the importance of social media HI for the audience, and analyzed the empowerment of machine learning in HI dissemination. Through analysis and investigation, the new social media HI dissemination has increased by 0.09% compared with the traditional social media HI dissemination pseudoscience information identification; audience involvement has increased by 0.08; audience professionalism has increased by 0.2. Introducing machine learning into the field of HI content dissemination can help achieve customized production and crowdsourcing of content, from concept to reality, and from theory to practice, and thus trigger a new content revolution, shining new youth and vitality into HI dissemination.

Seeing things the same way: perspectives and lessons learned from research-design collaborations.

Information visualizations are increasingly being developed by informatics researchers to communicate health information to lay audiences. For high-quality results, it is advisable to collaborate with creative professionals such as graphic designers, illustrators, or user interface/user experience designers. However, such collaborations are often a novel experience for both parties, each of which may be unfamiliar with the needs and processes of the other. We have coalesced our experiences from both the research and design perspectives to offer practical guidance in hopes of promoting the success of future collaborations. We offer suggestions for determining design needs, communicating with design professionals, and carrying out the design process. We assert that successful collaborations are predicated on careful and intentional planning at the outset of a project, a thorough understanding of each party's scope expertise, clear communication, and ample time for the design process to unfold.

Directly Integrating Health Information Exchange (HIE) Data with the Electronic Health Record Increases HIE Use by Emergency Department Clinicians

Abstract Objectives This article (1) develops a Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources app, Health Dart, that integrates information from Indiana's community health information exchange (HIE), the Indiana Network for Patient Care (INPC), directly with Cerner, an electronic health record (EHR), and (2) evaluates the effect of Health Dart's implementation on HIE use. Methods Health Dart was implemented in 14 Indiana University Health emergency departments (EDs) using a stepped-wedge study design. We analyzed rates of INPC use in 286,175 ED encounters between October 1, 2019 and December 31, 2020. Logistic regression was used to model the probability of INPC use given the implementation context, such as user interface (UI) enhancements and the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Results INPC use increased by 131% across all encounters (from 3.6 to 8.3%; p < 0.001) after Health Dart implementation. INPC use increased by 144% (from 3.6 to 8.8%; p < 0.001) more than 2 months postimplementation. After UI enhancements, postimplementation INPC use increased by 123% (from 3.5 to 7.8%) compared to 181% (from 3.6 to 10.1%; p < 0.001) in postimplementation encounters that occurred before UI enhancements. During the pandemic, postimplementation INPC use increased by 135% (from 3.4 to 8.0%; p < 0.001) compared to 178% (from 3.6 to 10%; p < 0.001) in postimplementation encounters that occurred before the pandemic. Statistical significance was determined using 95% confidence intervals (α = 0.05). Conclusion Direct integration of HIE information into an EHR substantially increased frequency of HIE use, but the effect was weakened by the UI enhancements and pandemic. HIE information integrated into EHRs in the form of problem-oriented dashboards can potentially make information retrieval more efficient and effective for clinicians.

Awareness of Parents Regarding Eye Diseases and Eye Care Needs among Children of Tehsil Babuzai, District Swat

Purpose: To find out level of awareness of parents regarding eye diseases, eye care needs and eye care practices among children of district Swat. Study Design: Descriptive Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Hospitals of Tehsil Babuzai, District Swat, Pakistan from 15th March to 15th August 2022. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 200 parents of Tehsil Babuzai, District Swat, Pakistan. Data was collected through an interview-based questionnaire which was divided into four main parts; socio-demographic data, knowledge about eye care, knowledge about eye diseases and eye care practices. Chi-square test was used to find out association among categorical variables. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26. Results: Knowledge about eye care was good in 112 parents (56.0%) and poor in 88 parents (44.0%). Knowledge was good regarding amblyopia in 82 (41.0%) parents, for childhood cataract in 63 (31.5%), and for congenital glaucoma in 56 (28.0%) parents. Attitude regarding children wearing spectacles and allowing ophthalmic surgery was positive in 179 (89.5%) and 165 (82.5%) parents, respectively. Most common eye diseases identified were refractive error (50.9%), followed by amblyopia (23.6%). Participants with higher education level and those having child with existing eye problems had significantly higher knowledge and practices scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion: A considerable heterogeneity was observed between different social groups regarding children’s ocular problems and practices. Health care communities must play their role in communicating health information to illiterate parents in order to improve their knowledge and practices regarding ocular issues of their children.

The Effect of Health Promotion Media on Knowledge of Work Safety and Health of Students of 3 State Vocational School, Jambi City

Media or visual aids in health promotion can be interpreted as tools for promoting health that can be seen, touched, heard, tasted or smelled, to facilitate communication and dissemination of health information. The purpose of this study was to find out how the influence of the application of health promotion media (audiovisual) on increasing the knowledge of students at SMK Negeri 3 Jambi City. This study used the Pre-Experimental method by designing one group pretest and posttest. The research location was carried out at SMK Negeri 3 Jambi City. The study population consisted of 221 students and the sample was taken using a proportional stratified random sampling technique with a total of 65. Data analysis used the Paired/Related T test. The results of the study showed that there was an influence from the health promotion media intervention carried out on the knowledge of students at SMK Negeri 3 Jambi City. From the paired t-test conducted, the p-value for knowledge was 0.000. This proves that there is influence before and after being given an intervention using health promotion media. From this study it can be concluded that there is an influence of interventions using health promotion media on students' knowledge of occupational safety and health (K3) at SMK Negeri 3 Jambi City.

Individual and contextual level enablers and barriers determining electronic community health information system implementation in northwest Ethiopia

BackgroundThe government of Ethiopia has envisioned digitalizing primary healthcare units through the electronic community health information system (eCHIS) program as a re-engineering strategy aiming to improve healthcare data quality, use, and service provision. The eCHIS is intended as a community-wide initiative to integrate lower health structure with higher administrative health and service delivery unit with the ultimate goal of improving community health. However, the success or failure of the program depends on the level of identifying enablers and barriers of the implementation. Therefore, this study aimed to explore individual and contextual-level enablers and barriers determining eCHIS implementation.MethodWe conducted an exploratory study to determine the enablers and barriers to successfully implementing eCHIS in rural Wogera district, northwest Ethiopia. In-depth interviews and key informant interviews were applied at participants from multiple sites. A thematic content analysis was conducted based on the key themes reported. We applied the five components of consolidated framework for implementation research to interpret the findings.ResultsFirst, based on the intervention's characteristics, implementers valued the eCHIS program. However, its implementation was impacted by the heavy workload, limited or absent network and electricity. Outer-setting challenges were staff turnover, presence of competing projects, and lack of incentive mechanisms. In terms of the inner setting, lack of institutionalization and ownership were mentioned as barriers to the implementation. Resource allocation, community mobilization, leaders’ engagement, and availability of help desk need emphasis for a better achievement. With regard to characteristics of the individuals, limited digital literacy, older age, lack of peer-to-peer support, and limited self-expectancy posed challenges to the implementation. Finally, the importance of mentoring and engaging community and religious leaders, volunteers, having defined plan and regular meetings were identified elements of the implementation process and need emphasis.ConclusionThe findings underlined the potential enablers and barriers of eCHIS program for quality health data generation, use, and service provision and highlighted areas that require emphasis for further scale-up. The success and sustainability of the eCHIS require ongoing government commitment, sufficient resource allocation, institutionalization, capacity building, communication, planning, monitoring, and evaluation.

Talking to Our Citizens: National Health Organizations (Mis) communications in the United Kingdom and United States During the Time of COVID-19

In this article, we discuss the ways in which the United Kingdom and the United States communicate health information to their respective citizens. While this article is not limited to the study of COVID-19 health communications, we look at the institutions that were tasked with communication responsibilities regarding the COVID-19 virus in the United States and United Kingdom. To highlight the possible repercussions on the general public of each nation, we present a review of the institutions of communication as a gateway for discussion and an opportunity to unveil discrepancies and inequitable forms of communication. These institutions are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health in the United States, and the National Health Service in the United Kingdom. We consider the language and vocabulary used within these organizations’ mission statements, privacy policies, digital channels and platforms, regulations for advice and feedback from federal agents as well the general public, and accessibility. We use an intersectional lens to explore the nuanced and multifarious impacts of communication praxis and aim to discuss how these have led to limitations of passive and comprehensive communication influences in both nations and their relation to health infrastructure. By understanding the constraints of health infrastructure on the current disenfranchised citizens in both the United States and United Kingdom, we can register the adverse behavioral imprint on individuals as a result and finally call for further research into the impact of reconstructive governmental health communications.

Barriers, facilitators and motivators of electronic community health information system use among health workers in Ethiopia.

The electronic community health information system (eCHIS) has been implemented in Ethiopia to support health services delivered by community health workers. Despite the many benefits of digitizing community health information systems, the implementation of the eCHIS is challenged by many barriers resulting in low uptake. This study assessed the barriers, facilitators, and motivators of eCHIS use among health workers with focus on health extension workers (HEWs) in Ethiopia. Phenomenological approach was used to assess the barriers, facilitators and motivators of eCHIS use in Amhara, Harari, Oromia, Sidama, South West Ethiopia and Southern Nation Nationalities and People's regions of Ethiopia. Data were collected from 15-29 May 2022. A total of 54 face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted among HEWs, HEW supervisors, health information technicians and managers. The interviews were audiotaped using Open Data Kit, transcribed verbatim and translated into English. OpenCode 4.03 software was used for coding and categorizing the data. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The HEWs and other eCHIS users reported lack of infrastructure and resources; poor quality of training, follow-up, and supervision; parallel recording using the manual and electronic system; and HEWs' workload as barriers hindering eCHIS use. Data quality, retrievability, and traceability; tablet portability; encouragement from supervisors; and positive image in the community resulting from HEWs using tablets in their routine activities were the main facilitators of eCHIS use. The study identified various barriers that adversely affect the use of eCHIS. An integrated and coordinated approach to eCHIS implementation that encompasses removing the barriers, and reinforcing facilitators is required.

Factors affecting communication between transgender and non-binary individuals and general practitioners: Recommendations for inclusive interactions

Research shows that transgender and non-binary (TNB) individuals frequently experience discrimination and mistreatment in health care settings. These negative experiences cause TNB people to underutilize health care and, when they do utilize it, may affect communication of health information. Moving from social cognitive theory (SCT) and theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study investigated what factors influence pre-, during, and post physician visit communication between TNB individuals and general practitioners (GPs) in The Netherlands. Between March and May 2022, fifteen TNB individuals and ten GPs participated in semi-structured interviews and focus groups about their experiences with GP-TNB interactions. The findings suggest that GPs addressing TNB people, GP knowledge and education, GP office procedures and environment, and social environment (in)directly facilitate or hamper communication. These findings support previous ideas about the influence of factors such as knowledge and social environment on one's behavior, as previously described in SCT and TPB. They also add and specify how pre-determined and novel factors affect whether TNB people feel welcome and comfortable at GP offices and if GPs feel equipped to provide TNB people with quality care. More specifically, to facilitate appropriate health communication, GPs are advised to ask patients about their pronouns, adjust intake forms, and put up TNB-specific posters or a Pride flag in their offices. TNB people are advised to make an introductory appointment to discuss their gender identity. Lastly, TNB topics should be included in medical curricula and online GP resources.

Communicating health information with visual displays.

Well-designed visual displays have the power to convey health messages in clear, effective ways to non-experts, including journalists, patients and policymakers. Poorly designed visual displays, however, can confuse and alienate recipients, undermining health messages. In this Perspective, we propose a structured framework for effective visual communication of health information, using case examples of three common communication tasks: comparing treatment options, interpreting test results, and evaluating risk scenarios. We also show simple, practical ways to evaluate a design's success and guide improvements. The proposed framework is grounded in research on health risk communication, visualization and decision science, as well as our experience in communicating health data.

A Potential Systematic Barrier to Community Health Literacy about Epilepsy Surgery: A Preliminary Readability Analysis of Online Health Education Materials in the United States (P6-1.006)

<h3>Objective:</h3> Analyze readability of online health education materials designed to provide epilepsy surgery information to patients. <h3>Background:</h3> Epilepsy surgery is an effective albeit underused treatment for refractory epilepsy. The workup and procedure explanations are complex and further compounded by the cognitive difficulties many people with epilepsy face. A previous United Kingdom study showed poor readability of online resources used for epilepsy surgery. However, there is still much to explore regarding the readability of resources in the United States, and what kinds of sites are associated with better readability. <h3>Design/Methods:</h3> A private browser was used to search Google for the top 100 search results for the terms “epilepsy+surgery”. Scientific papers, insurance pages, pay-wall access sites, and non-text content were excluded. The website text was re-formatted to exclude graphics, contact information, links, and headers. Readability metrics were calculated using an online readability tool (Datayze Readability Analyzer). Analysis was done through R using the Kruskal-Wallis test, and statistical assumptions were assessed. <h3>Results:</h3> Here we present the preliminary analysis of the top 100 items from a Google search yielding 76 websites and 24 exclusions. Websites were categorized as US based organizations or non-US, content from level 4 epilepsy centers, and if the sources were community health websites not associated with academic institutions. The Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) showed significantly better readability in community health websites (FRE p=.03, FKGL p=.03), non-level 4 epilepsy centers (FRE p=.002, FKGL p=.002), and international websites (FRE p=.02, FKGL =.03). <h3>Conclusions:</h3> Health information source characteristics associated with better readability levels included non-academic centers, non-level 4 epilepsy centers and community health information websites. This analysis suggests that academic centers, especially level 4 epilepsy centers, should consider involving community members, advocacy organizations and non-medical writers in the designing of online epilepsy surgery health education materials. <b>Disclosure:</b> Mr. Seneviratne has nothing to disclose. Ms. Ho has nothing to disclose. Dr. Correa has received personal compensation in the range of $0-$499 for serving as a Consultant for Independent Medical Consultants. Dr. Correa has received personal compensation in the range of $0-$499 for serving as a Consultant for Atheneum Partners. Dr. Correa has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Correa has stock in Aidin Inc. Dr. Correa has received research support from Genentech. Dr. Correa has received research support from Psi Upsilon Foundation Inc.

Perception of Ghanaian healthcare students towards the learning of sign language as course

Communication remains among the top barriers to healthcare for deaf people. One of the reasons is healthcare professionals lack the competence to communicate health information in sign language. Part of the measures to alleviate this challenge was the introduction of sign language into the curriculum of health students. The perceptions of healthcare students on this initiative were assessed in this study. The study used cross-sectional online survey to collect data from 666 randomly sampled health students in Ghana. Participants were recruited through social media platforms. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square was used to analyze the differences between categorical variables at the rate of 95% confidence intervals (p = 0.05), and binary logistic was performed to ascertain predictors of health student’s perception about hospital should provide professional interpreters than students learning GhSL. The study found that about 9 in 10 of all health students support the introduction of GHSL as a course. Student nurses perceive more benefits of learning GHSL to the deaf community than all health students. Logistic regression revealed that students’ midwives were 2.183 times significantly more likely to support the view that hospitals should provide professional interpreters instead of health students learning GHSL as compared with students who study Nursing (AOR: 2.183, CI: 1.104–4.316, p = 0.025). To sustain the interest of students in the learning of GhSL. Appropriate teaching and learning materials should be made available. Likewise, competent instructors should be recruited in the teaching of GhSL. This can be done through a collaborative effort between stakeholders including KNUST, NMC, and the ministry of health.