Use Of Health Information Research Articles

The role social diversity plays in enhancing mental health literacy among the elderly

PurposeMental health literacy (MHL) is the ability to understand health information originating from different sources. Little is known about ethnic differences in sources for health information, and the effect these differences has on elderly MHL. In this paper, we focus on the social networks (i.e. social connections) of elderly people from different ethnic groups, and investigate the effect these networks have on MHL. Specifically, we focus on the ethnic diversity of one's peers (ethnic diversity) as a network characteristic that can interplay with his\\her MHL.Design/methodology/approachThe data used in this study were gathered using a survey among elderly (over the age of 60) Native Israeli Jews (N = 147) and Immigrant Jews from the Former Soviet Union (FSU, N = 131). The survey was used to assess our participants MHL, online and offline sources of mental health information and mental health service utilization. Interviews were also conducted with each participant. The interview purpose was to map the participants' social network (using a sociogram), while indicating the attributes of the participant's peers (age, gender, ethnicity, etc.) and the nature of the interaction (online vs. offline, strength of the tie, etc.). A set of hierarchal regression analyses were then used to examine which social network attributes are correlated with MHL levels.FindingsOur findings shows that ethnic diversity within the social networks of Immigrants from the FSU contributed to their MHL more so than for native-born Jews. Specifically, face to face maintained connections with individuals from diverse ethnic groups lead to increased knowledge about how to search for mental health information. Online maintained connections with individuals from diverse ethnic groups, lead to increase attitudes that promote recognition of mental health related issues and appropriate help-seeking.Originality/valueUnderstanding the interplay between the ethnic diversity among one's peers and his/her MHL offers an important additional prism of examining MHL; moving beyond the individual's characteristics and examining his/her social connections as well. The relevancy of these findings for reducing MHL inequalities between native-born and elderly migrants, as well as for ethnic minorities is discussed.

경기지역 외국인 근로자의 인터넷을 통한 보건정보 이용행태

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find an efficient way to provide health information to foreign workers by identifying the health information usage behavior of foreign workers through the internet and analyzing factors that affect foreign workers' experience of using health information through the internet. Methods: This study performed a survey targeting for 350 migrant workers in Korea, who visited for receiving the medical treatment of free medical examination and treatment, provided by Migrant Health Association in Korea in December 2007, and analyzed the use experience of health information through the internet by the workers. Results: The results of this study are as follow, with respect to the place of using the internet, the workers who use PC room showed 8.298 times more use experience than the workers who use public places. Those who use the internet almost every day showed 10.28 times more than those who do not use the internet. The workers who agreed with the needs of providing health information in their mother language on the internet in Korea showed 2.566 times more than those who did not agreed. Those who have an intention to participate in the offer of health information by e-mail showed 4.659 times more use experience in the internet health information than those who do not have. Conclusion: As the results of this study, it is thought that if the migrant workers obtain health information through the internet, it will be helpful for the improvement of healthy life. In order for the workers to acquire such health information through the internet, it is considered that it needs to provide the Internet health information written in various languages.

Rural Community Engagement for Health Disparities Research: The Unique Role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Reducing health disparities in rural communities of color remains a national concern. Efforts to reduce health disparities often center on community engagement, which is historically the strategy used to provide rural minority populations with support to access and utilize health information and services. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), with their origins derived from social injustices and discrimination, are uniquely positioned to conduct this type of engagement. We present the “Research with Care” project, a long-standing positive working relationship between North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and rural Halifax County, North Carolina, demonstrating an effective campus–community partnership. The importance of readiness to implement Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles is underscored. As demonstrated by the NCCU–Halifax partnership, we recommend leveraging the positive associations of the HBCU brand identity as a method of building and sustaining meaningful relationships with rural Black communities. This underscores the role and value of HBCUs in the health disparities research arena and should be communicated and embraced.

The Disparities in Accessing Online Health Information and Health Care Utilization Among Older Americans

Digital divide or unequal access to internet and other technology result in health disparities among older adults. This study examined possible disparities in accessing online health-related technology, and the associations between the online health-related technology use and health care utilization among older adults in the U.S. The data comprised a sample of 1,497 older adults aged 51 and older which were obtained from the 2014 Health and Retirement Study (HRS)’s supplemental module (Health behaviors). We used the survey-weighted negative binomial regression and binary logistic regression for the analyses. The results showed that older age, racial/ethnic minorities (e.g., Black and Hispanic vs. Whites & Other), being married, lower educational attainment, lower-income, being uninsured and reporting poorer health were associated with lower utilization of online health-management tools. In Addition, the use of online health-management tools was associated with 34% greater mean number of doctor visits (Incidence-Rate-Ratio = 1.34, S.E. = 0.10, p < 0.05) than non-use. However, the use of online health-management tools was not associated with hospitalization. Indeed, only health care needs - the self-rated health (Odds-Ratio = 0.58, S.E. = 0.18, p < 0.05) and the number of chronic conditions were associated hospitalizations (Odds-Ratio = 1.68, S.E. = 0.07, p < 0.05). More research is needed to clarify the purposes (e.g., prevention vs. treatment) and outcomes of health care service utilization within the context of health care technology use. Yet, it is important to proactively address digital divide as one of upstream strategies for reducing health and health care disparities.

Utilization of midwives service scheme among women farmers in Southwestern Nigeria

Maternal mortality accounts for most deaths in agrarian communities of Nigeria due to poor access to midwives services and inadequate Skilled Birth Attendants (SBAs). The Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) was established to engage more SBAs and advocate better utilization of pre and post-natal care services. Studies have focused on maternal mortality reduction, however, information on underlying factors that predispose MSS target beneficiaries to its utilization is scarce. Therefore, utilization of MSS among women farmers in southwestern Nigeria was investigated. A four-stage sampling procedure was used. Three states from southwestern states (Oyo, Ogun and Ekiti) were randomly selected. Thereafter, ten Local Government Areas (LGAs) from eighteen LGAs that adopted MSS programme in the selected states were sampled. Also, 30% of the MSS facilities in the sampled LGAs were selected, resulting in 13 MSS facilities. Proportionate sampling technique was used to select 20% of registered women farmers in the selected 13 MSS facilities to give 207 respondents. Interview schedule was used to collect data on respondents’ socioeconomic characteristics, Maternal Health Information Sources (MHIS), Maternal Health Information Seeking Behavior (MHISB) and utilization of MSS. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. About (55.6%) of the respondents had formal education. MHISB and effectiveness of MSS was rated low by 53.2% and 55.6% of the respondents, respectively. MSS was moderately utilized by 64.7% of the respondents. The MSS utilization was 49.24 ± 11.39 (Oyo), 45.08 ± 9.28 (Ogun) and 44.00 ± 10.71 (Ekiti). Respondents’ education (χ2 = 12.85), family size (r = 0.02), monthly income (r = 0.48) related positively and significantly (r = 0.27) to MSS utilization.

Utilization and associated factors of sexual and reproductive health services among adolescents of Kathmandu district, Nepal

Background: There seems to be huge differences in availability and utilization of Sexual and Reproductive Health information and services despite of taking decisive step by Government of Nepal. The main aim of the study is to access the utilization and factors associated with SRH services among adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 406 adolescent students of grade 11 and 12 which were taken as census in selected higher secondary schools of Kathmandu District through simple random sampling technique. The utilization of SRH services was assessed by semi-structured validated and pretested questionnaire which includes socio-demographic, utilization of sexual health and reproductive health (SRH) services and sexual behaviours. Data were entered and analyzed in SPSS version 20 where Chi-square tests is done to identify the associated factors with utilization SRH services utilization.Results: Overall utilization in last 12 months was 17.2% and was found to be strongly associated with availability of services within 30 minutes of walking distance (p value=0.001), interaction with parents (p-value: 0.02) and with sexually being active within 12 months (p value=0.001). Utilization of SRH services was slightly higher among females (19.8%) compared to males (15.3%). Most utilized services were services related to menstrual problems and family planning including ECP. This study concludes that fear of family and society hinders the utilization of SRH services.Conclusions: As adolescent fear to talk and seek for the services, due to the social cultural norms and stigma attached to SRH services, utilization among adolescent of selected colleges in Kathmandu is low.

14.I. Workshop: Strengthening the impact of national health information systems in policy and practice

Abstract Health information (HI) includes data on population health, on health determinants, health care systems, and health-relevant policy developments. Duly prioritised HI is essential to inform decision-makers, researchers and the public. However, getting evidence into the hands of key stakeholders is still a challenge in many European countries. Depending on the respective target groups: decision-makers, clinical care providers, allied health professionals, health advocates and patients, various challenges arise for leveraging this data for intervention. While public health agencies aim to improve health for all, building bridges across stakeholder groups for a more efficient implementation of evidence-based recommendations requires concerted efforts and exchange of best practices and innovations in HI. This workshop aims to provide delegates with a clear understanding of the strategies that can strengthen the impact of national health information systems (HIS) in policy and practice. Within InfAct, the EU Joint Action on Health Information (InfAct), EU-Member States have taken significant steps towards building such an integrated infrastructure to advance the use of HI for analysis, decision-making and intervention. Five case examples of this consortium will be presented. The objectives are two-fold: 1) to provide delegates with an overview of the latest developments in public health reporting and monitoring across European countries, and 2) to present solutions that focus on strengthening the impact of national HIS in policy and practice. The workshop will begin with an introduction to national strategies that have been implemented across Europe to identify and prioritise HI needs; good practice recommendations for public health reporting will also be provided. At EU level, the 88 European Core Health Indicators (ECHI) have been widely adopted to provide a 'snapshot' of European public health (including care), and we will explore the future of the ECHI list in guiding decision-makers. There is also increasing interest on how to facilitate the uptake of evidence in the health system but also across sectors; this relies on taking into account the broader socio-political context and envisioning new partnerships with civil society and non-state actors. Therefore, our workshop will explore the latest developments in monitoring knowledge integration into national policies and civil society. Dialogue on what can be done, and what is needed for better knowledge management will be fueled by an interactive voting poll during the session. The Mentimeter poll will prompt the audience to share, in real time, their perspectives and expectations for HI production, dissemination and use across countries. For example, on the role of health literacy in facilitating the implementation of evidence-based recommendations. The delegates will take the perspective of the public, the public health researcher and the health policy maker in this. Key messages Mapping health information (HI) priorities and reporting approaches across countries facilitates the exchange of best practices in the context of building a sustainable EU Health Information system. The future EU distributed research infrastructure on population health (DIPoH) may hold a key role in informing national and EU-level interventions in health policy and practice.

Monitoring knowledge translation and the impact of HI in European countries

Abstract Background National health information systems (NHIS) report on the health of populations, the determinants of health and service use within countries. Thus far, the evaluation of HIS has largely focused on data production, and less on their impact in policy and practice. This entails that there is no standardized framework for monitoring the uptake of Health Information (HI) in the healthcare system. Methods An international Delphi with public health professionals and policy makers allowed reaching agreement on criteria for monitoring the impact of NHIS, based on four domains: (a) Health information Evidence Quality, (b) HIS Responsiveness, (c) Stakeholder Engagement, and (d) Knowledge Integration. Next, we pretested the Index among participating countries in the European Joint Action on Health Information. Results Over 130 public health professionals and policy-makers from 38 countries participated in the Delphi. The panel reached agreement on 30 criteria to monitor the impact of HIS in policy and practice; these constitute the HI-Impact Index. Eight countries participated in pretesting the HI-Impact Index. InfAct country representative found the HIS evaluation tool user friendly and the time needed to fill the evaluation acceptable. They noted however the need to refine the auditing guidelines further as to who shall be responsible for conducting the evaluation (i.e. multistakeholder evaluation vs. single governing body), and which type of population health data sources should be included as part of the evaluation. Conclusions Knowledge translation facilitates the implementation of practices that will benefit population health and well-being. The HI-Impact Index addresses a growing demand for more transparency and accountability in the use of HI and scientific evidence within countries. Next steps consist in further piloting the HI-Impact Index for use in specific health areas (i.e. maternal and child health, cancer, antimicrobial resistance).

Psychometric properties of the Danish version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire

Abstract Background Understanding and utilizing health information has become increasingly demanding whereby people's health literacy becomes important. European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q16) measures health literacy (HL). We aimed to study the psychometric properties of the Danish version in the general population and a population with coronary artery disease. Methods A national, cross-sectional survey of individuals from the general Danish population and patients with Myocardial Infarction (MI) was conducted. The general population sample consisted of 7,653 individuals. The MI sample of 4,440 individuals had previously been hospitalized with MI. To assess the influence of large sample sizes, we examined five randomly drawn subsamples of 500 from each population. The Rasch analysis was conducted using RUMM-2030 consisting of inspection of unidimensionality, local dependency, Differential item Functioning (DIF), and item fit. Results The results are preliminary and analyses still ongoing. The HLS-EU-Q16 did not fit the Rasch model, neither for the total sample, subsamples, the general population sample, nor for the MI sample. For the MI sample, there were signs of local dependence and item 6 had the largest item misfit. DIF was observed for item 6 and 7 (age and gender). The general population sample also showed signs of local dependence, and item 1 indicated the largest item misfit. DIF was observed for item 1 (age) and item 1, 7, 8, 13 and 16 (gender). Conclusions The Danish version of HLS-EU-Q16 did not fit the Rasch model neither in the general population sample nor for the MI sample. Our large population-based study indicated scalability problems of the HLS-EU-Q16. The validation procedure is a step on the path to ensure the use of valid measures of HL in both populations and patient groups to support the raising awareness of HL as a necessary element to ensure equity in our health system and thereby initiating an urgent public health activity. Key messages We studied the construct validity of the Danish version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire HLS-EU-Q16 with a Rasch model. Our large population-based study indicate problems with the psychometric properties of the current Danish version of the HLS-EU-Q16.

Digitalization of immunization programmes in Europe: results from the EUVIS project

Abstract The second and final phase of the EUVIS (EUrope Vaccines ICT Strategies) project, coordinated by the School of Public Health of the University Vita-Salute San Raffaele in Milan (Italy), aims at collecting best practices on the use and impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and digital tools to increase vaccine uptake and ultimately vaccination coverage in Europe. The field of ICT has flourished in recent years revolutionizing the processes of gathering, spreading and utilizing health information among healthcare providers, citizens and mass media. In particular, we are interested in any digital technology that can improve vaccine uptake supporting actions aimed at both increasing the demand of vaccines (i.e provide access to information through telecommunications, networks, the Internet, wireless, mobile devices), and the supply of effective and efficient life-course immunization services (i.e ICT-based interventions to support immunization programmes delivery and their monitoring). Within EUVIS we have previously conducted a series of systematic reviews to pool available evidence from experimental studies on the impact of selected ICT-based intervention (i.e. e-mail reminders, personal health records, among others) to improve vaccine uptake and other associated outcomes. In the current study, second and final phase of the EUVIS project, we are conducting a survey at the European level to gather original data on the use and impact of ICT and digital tools within immunization programmes in selected countries. The survey tool was developed on the basis of findings from EUVIS phase one and experts' consultation; it consisted on a 55-item questionnaire, distributed to public health professionals working in health agencies, institutions and the academia to build “ICT and immunization” countries' profile, as well as to gather, pool and critically appraise data on perceived potential and challenges of immunization programmes' digitalization in Europe.

Implementing and utilizing Health Information Management System in Hadiya Zone, South Nations Nationalities and People Region, Ethiopia

Implementing and utilizing Health Information Management System in Hadiya Zone, South Nations Nationalities and People Region, Ethiopia

Health Information Technology Utilization by Adolescent and Young Adult Aged Inpatients Undergoing Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

This longitudinal study examined feasibility of "Roadmap 1.0," a modular health information application integrated with the electronic medical record, provided to 30 adolescent and young adult (AYA) inpatients 11-24 years of age undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Feasibility was demonstrated: 70% accessed the application. Utilization was highest the first 2 weeks of hospitalization, with the laboratory results module used most. Users' tension and fatigue were higher than nonusers' at baseline, but not hospital discharge or day 100. Results suggest AYAs utilize health information technology in ways consistent with the HSCT trajectory and Roadmap 1.0 addressed informational and psychological needs.

FACTORS RELATED TO QUALITY DATA WHICH DETERMINE HEALTH INFORMATION UTILIZATION IN MAKING DECISION AMONG HEALTHCARE MANAGERS IN MOMBASA COUNTY, KENYA

Purpose: This was a study based on Health Information Systems pillar. The study sought to explore factors related to quality data which influence health information utilization in making decision among healthcare managers in Mombasa County.Methodology: This was a Descriptive Survey Study design where desired data was obtained from selected respondents by semi-structured questionnaires. The research targeted a total of 303 healthcare managers in Mombasa County which comprised of 21 County Health Management Team (CHMT) members, 56 Sub-county Health Management Team (SCHMT) members from the four sub-counties, 43 facility In-Charges from the 43 public health facilities and 183 Heads of Departments (HODs). A sample size of 91 healthcare managers was used in the study. This was 30% of the target population and were randomly selected. A response rate of 98.9% was achieved. Descriptive and Inferential analysis was done. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 23.Findings: Results revealed that quality data factors (β4 = 0.298; t = 4.079; p &lt; 0.01) were significant predictors of health information utilization in making decision among healthcare managers in Mombasa County. These results imply that improvement in these variables (data accuracy, completeness and timeliness) will enhance health information utilization. How these variables are accomplished influence the level of health information utilization in making decision.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: When the study recommendations are implemented, there will be assured quality data which will assist in coming up with the design of disease prevention, interventions and to monitor and evaluate the progress made on the measures put in place. By doing so, the study will have validated the theory of Evidence Based Health Information System by Carbone, (2009), on which the study was anchored. Quality data is, therefore, not only crucial in securing health status description, service coverage, and performance, but also inspires confidence in the HIS among healthcare managers. The study recommends that the MOH introduces HMIS as a subject in the pre-service curriculum of all healthcare cadres in order to improve HIS. Mombasa County Government should ensure that quality data is generated (with regards to accuracy, completeness and timeliness) at all levels of the health systems for purposes of accountability and more importantly its utility to improve healthcare programs, to survive and prosper in the current dynamic healthcare environment

Utilization of routine health information and associated factors among health workers in Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

BackgroundThe utilization of routine health information is an essential factor of the structural capacity of health departments and public health performance depends on the effectiveness of information use for routine and programed decisions. Considerable research has been conducted in health data collection and ways to improve data quality, but little is known about utilization of routine health information among health workers in Ethiopia in general and in the study area in particular.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess level of utilization of routine health information and associated factors among health workers in Hadiya zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2019.Methods and materialsFacility-based cross-sectional study design with both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods was employed at the Hadiya zone from March 10–25, 2019. A total of 480 health workers were included in the study and systematic random sampling was employed to select the health care workers in the study. The results were analyzed and presented in tables and graphs. Finally, the binary logistic regression was used to examine independent predictors.ResultGood level of utilization of routine health information was reported by 301 (62.7%, 95% CI: 58.5%-66.9%) of the health workers. Training [AOR = 8.12; 95% CI: (4.33–15.23)], supportive supervision [AOR = 2.34; 95% CI:(1.40–3.92)], good perceived culture of health information [AOR = 5.05; 95% CI: (2.99–8.50], having a standard set of indicators (AOR = 2.05 95%; CI: (1.23–3.41) and competence on routine health information tasks [AOR = 5.85; 95% CI: (3.41–10.02)] were independent predictors.ConclusionGood level of utilization of routine health information was noted in less than two-third of the study participants. Further training, supportive supervision, perceived culture of health information, having standard set of indicators and competence on routine health information task were factors that improve routine health information utilization.

Academic electronic health records as a vehicle to augment the assessment of patient care skills in the didactic pharmacy curriculum

IntroductionStandards 2016 state students must be “practice-ready” upon graduation and utilizing health information technology is one skill needed to ensure students are practice-ready. Incorporating academic electronic health records (EHRs) into the didactic pharmacy curriculum is one tool for preparing students to be practice-ready, but it is unclear if this technology is used to facilitate assessment of students' patient care skills. MethodsA 35-question electronic survey was distributed to each school/college of pharmacy (S/COP) with questions focused on general use of EHRs and characterizing EHRs as a tool to assess students' patient care skills in the didactic curriculum. Aggregate, anonymous data was reported and analyzed using descriptive statistics. ResultsFifty-nine survey responses were suitable for inclusion in the analysis (43.8% response rate). Of those, 37 S/COP (62.7%) used an EHR in the didactic curriculum. Frequently performed and assessed EHR functions were collecting information and documentation, and EHRs were most commonly utilized to assess students' abilities to perform the collect (96.9%) and assess (93.8%) steps of the Pharmacists' Patient Care Process. EHRs were perceived to be most effective in assessing the following Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Education Educational Outcomes: patient-centered care (93.9%), problem solving (83.9%), and learner (80.6%). ConclusionsOptimizing the use of EHRs in S/COP is critical. Determining which outcomes are best suited to be assessed utilizing this technology and the optimal method to do so is an appropriate next step.

Online Health Information Seeking: A Review and Meta-Analysis

ABSTRACT Online health information, as an emerging field in health communication research, has attracted close attention from researchers. To identify major determinants of why individuals seek health information online, we conducted a meta-analysis that systematically accumulates the existing research findings. To that end, by integrating three theories or models for examining information-seeking behavior, we developed a theoretical framework for the current meta-analysis that emphasizing psychosocial, instrumental, contextual, and demographic factors. By analyzing the effect sizes from 44 articles representing 54 empirical samples, we found that the quality, trustworthiness, and utility of online health information were the dominant predictors of seeking it and that instrumental factors were more important than psychological ones in determining whether individuals did so. Moreover, the development of information and communication technology, the sampling method, and the type of information sought significantly moderated pairwise relationships between determinants and seeking behavior, whereas culture did not. Herein, we discuss the theoretical implications of our findings as well as directions for future research.

Pregnancy and health in the age of the Internet: A content analysis of online "birth club" forums.

BackgroundAlthough studies report that more than 90% of pregnant women utilize digital sources to supplement their maternal healthcare, little is known about the kinds of information that women seek from their peers during pregnancy. To date, most research has used self-report measures to elucidate how and why women to turn to digital sources during pregnancy. However, given that these measures may differ from actual utilization of online health information, it is important to analyze the online content pregnant women generate.ObjectiveTo apply machine learning methods to analyze online pregnancy forums, to better understand how women seek information from a community of online peers during pregnancy.MethodsData from seven WhatToExpect.com “birth club” forums (September 2018; January-June 2018) were scraped. Forum posts were collected for a one-year period, which included three trimesters and three months postpartum. Only initial posts from each thread were analyzed (n = 262,238). Automatic natural language processing (NLP) methods captured 50 discussed topics, which were annotated by two independent coders and grouped categorically.ResultsThe largest topic categories were maternal health (45%), baby-related topics (29%), and people/relationships (10%). While pain was a popular topic all throughout pregnancy, individual topics that were dominant by trimester included miscarriage (first trimester), labor (third trimester), and baby sleeping routine (postpartum period).ConclusionMore than just emotional or peer support, pregnant women turn to online forums to discuss their health. Dominant topics, such as labor and miscarriage, suggest unmet informational needs in these domains. With misinformation becoming a growing public health concern, more attention must be directed toward peer-exchange outlets.

The Association between Health Literacy and Self-Rated Health Amongst Australian University Students

Health literacy is the capacity to understand, access, and effectively utilize health information and healthcare to make informed health decisions. This cross-sectional study uses the multi-dimensional Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) to investigate associations between demographic characteristics, self-rated health and health literacy among students (n = 932) in two Australian universities. We used Pearson’s chi-square to determine differences in self-rated health between demographic groups, Cohen’s defect Sizeto measure differences in HLQ scale scores between demographic groups, and logistic regression to determine associations between HLQ scores and self-rated health. A clear association was found between self-rated health and health literacy: as health literacy increased, so did self-rated health. Findings also demonstrate lower health literacy for culturally and linguistically diverse students, and those studying Arts compared to Health degrees. Lower self-rated health was correlated with HLQ scales including being less active in managing one’s own health, having less social support for one’s health, possessing insufficient health information and lower confidence in navigating the healthcare system. This study provides a comprehensive picture of potentially vulnerable students and identifies strategies for supporting their health endeavors while studying at university.

Improving health literacy – bridging the gap between newcomer populations and quality health care

Health literacy is the ability to obtain and utilize health information in order to advocate for one’s health. It is paramount to a recent immigrant’s successful integration into the Canadian healthcare system and their maintenance of health in the long term. Despite its importance, 60% of native-born Canadians and an even higher proportion of immigrants indicate that they are not health literate. In this article, we focus on the importance of health literacy in an immigrant population and current barriers they may face in accessing health care. We discuss current shortcomings within the healthcare system in terms of improving health literacy for newcomers and explore strategies currently used in the United States and Canada. Based on our review of the literature, it is clear that promoting health literacy is a multi-dimensional challenge which requires the synthesis of many strategies, including clear written and oral communication, use of multimedia tools, cultural sensitivity, participatory teaching, community resources, and availability of diverse care providers who can relate to newcomers linguistically and culturally.

A study on users\u2019 preference towards diabetes-related video clips on YouTube

BackgroundSocial media has arisen to be a new and important channel for information users for seeking and creating user-generated content. For health consumers, social media has long been regarded and employed as an important source to find health-related information and emotional support. This study investigated the characteristics of diabetes-related videos posted on YouTube, one of the most popular video-based social media platforms, and explored the factors influencing users’ preference towards the investigated videos.MethodsA mixed research method including coding and negative binomial regression test was applied. Coding was utilized to identify the status of the diabetes-related video clips and the factors related to users’ attitude to them. Negative binomial regression approach was employed to detect significant relationships among the factors and users’ attitude.ResultsThe researchers selected eight factors (e.g. number of views, post period, presenters’ gender, and subject) to represent the characteristics of the diabetes-related video clips. Eleven subjects were identified by examining the diabetes-related videos and three subjects, Treatment, Sign & Symptom, and Social & Culture, appeared the most frequently. Media type, presentation setting, post period, presenter role, and presenters’ gender affect the users’ positive attitude significantly. Post period, presenter role, and the Sign & Symptom subject and the Nutrient subject have significant influence on the users’ negative attitude.ConclusionsTreatment, Sign & Symptom, and Social & Culture are the most popular subjects of the investigated video clips. The users are less likely to show their attitude to old videos. They prefer journalists and patients on videos but dislike male presenters compared with other presenters, and show more negative attitude towards the videos about nutrients. The findings of this study can be used to enhance the content creation of diabetes-related video clips for video contributors, the design and organization of the diabetes-related content for multimedia-based social media Website designers, and the information seeking and communication among health information users.