Improve Health Literacy Research Articles

Virtual Waiting Room: The New Narrative of Waiting in Oncology Care.

This conceptual study introduces the "virtual waiting room," an innovative, interactive, web-based platform designed to enhance the waiting experience in oncology by providing personalized, educational, and supportive content. Central to our study is the implementation of the circular entry model, which allows for non-linear navigation of health information, empowering patients to access content based on their immediate needs and interests. This approach respects the individual journeys of patients, acknowledging the diverse pathways through which they seek understanding and manage their health. The virtual waiting room is designed not only to support patients but also to facilitate stronger communication and shared understanding between patients, caregivers, and families. By providing a shared digital space, the platform enables caregivers and family members to access the same information and resources, thereby promoting transparency and collective knowledge. This shared access is crucial in managing the emotional complexities of oncology care, where effective communication can significantly impact treatment outcomes and patient well-being. Furthermore, the study explores how the circular entry model within the virtual waiting room can enhance patient autonomy and engagement by offering customized interactions based on user feedback and preferences. This personalized approach aims to reduce anxiety, improve health literacy, and prepare patients more effectively for clinical interactions. By transforming passive waiting into active engagement, the virtual waiting room turns waiting time into a meaningful, informative period that supports both the psychological and informational needs of patients and their support networks.

Health Literacy and Medication Adherence Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Improving health literacy has been found to play a significant role in enhancing medication adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes. The present study aims to evaluate health literacy and its association with medication adherence among diabetic patients in Jordan. This cross-sectional study included 400 diabetic patients, predominantly female (68.8%), with a median age of 58 years, attending the endocrinology outpatient clinic at Albasheer Hospital in Amman, Jordan, between August and December 2023. Patients were recruited using convenience sampling, including those aged 18 and older, literate, diagnosed with T2DM for at least one year, and on at least one medication for T2DM. Sample size was calculated based on the Events Per Variable (EPV) criterion to ensure sufficient power for logistic regression analysis. Data were collected using two validated instruments: the Jordanian Diabetic Health Literacy Questionnaire (JDHLQ), assessing health literacy, and the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5), measuring medication adherence. A binary logistic regression model was constructed to identify variables associated with adherence levels. The study enrolled 400 diabetic patients (females =68.8%). While most of the participants (70.3%) reported high adherence levels, results revealed a window for health literacy improvement as the median for the JDHLQ score was 22 (ranging from 18 to 25) out of a maximum possible score of 32. More than half of the participants replied "never" to "I forget to take my medications", followed by "I stop taking my medications for a while". The binary regression model revealed that a higher JDHLQ score significantly increased the odds of a high adherence level. The significant association between improved health literacy and medication adherence necessitates the implementation of educational campaigns for enhancing literacy and hence medication adherence among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Health Literacy Levels of Women Attending a Perinatology Outpatient Clinic for High-Risk Pregnancy Follow-Up.

Health literacy, defined as the ability to obtain, understand, evaluate, and apply health information with knowledge, motivation, and skills, is crucial for maintaining and improving quality of life. Despite the availability of health information, limited health literacy is linked to health disparities, inadequate self-management of chronic diseases, and poorer health outcomes. The purpose of this study is to assess the health literacy of pregnant women who visit the Perinatology Outpatient Clinic for follow-up care. It seeks to identify gaps in knowledge and understanding that may impede effective healthcare delivery and inform targeted health education and public awareness programs to enhance health literacy. This prospective survey study included 210 pregnant women aged 18 to 40 years attending the Perinatology Outpatient Clinic at Giresun Obstetrics and Gynecology Training and Research Hospital, Turkey. Participants completed a questionnaire on health literacy, sociodemographics, and basic health status via Google Forms (Google Inc., Mountain View, CA, USA). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), employing tests such as Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, Student's t-test, ANOVA, Spearman, and Pearson correlation, and multivariate linear regression analysis. The mean age of participants was 29.97±5.44 years, with a mean health literacy score of 29.89±7.05. Education level and living place significantly influenced health literacy scores, with higher scores among those with higher education and urban living (p = 0.014 and p = 0.038, respectively). Economic status also significantly impacted health literacy, with lower scores among those with poor economic status (p<0.001). Health literacy scores were higher among those receiving health information from healthcare professionals (p = 0.006) and lower among those finding medical information from doctors insufficient (p = 0.008). Health literacy is significantly influenced by education level, living place, and economic status. The study emphasizes the necessity of focused health education initiatives, especially for individuals with lower educational attainment and those residing in rural regions. Improving health literacy via efficient communication from medical professionals can benefit expectant mothers and their unborn children by lowering medical expenses and improving health outcomes.

Effects of the teach-back method on the health status of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a real-world community-based cluster-randomized controlled trial.

The teach-back method (TBM), also known as the "show-me" method, is a technique for verifying patients' understanding of health-related information that has been recommended for improving health literacy. However, the research on TBM effect on the outcomes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients is limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of a TBM intervention on the health status of COPD patients. This real-world community-based cluster-randomized controlled trial enrolled 1,688 patients with COPD from 18 communities in China. Participants received either TBM plus usual care (UC) or UC only. General practitioners were trained in TBM before the intervention. The primary outcomes were depression and anxiety symptoms, as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The secondary outcomes were health-related quality of life and dyspnea, as measured by the COPD Assessment Test (CAT). Dyspnea was assessed using the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale. Data on acute exacerbations and deaths were extracted from medical records. Lung function was expressed as the forced expiratory volume in 1 second as a percentage of the predicted value [FEV1 (% pred)]. In total, 336 of the 853 COPD patients in the intervention group (TBM plus UC) had comorbid depression, compared with 329 of the 835 in the control group (UC only). The TBM group showed a significantly greater improvement in HADS depression and anxiety subscale scores (HADS-D and HADS-A, respectively) than the UC group at12 months (t =8.34, P<0.001; t=12.18, P<0.001). The CAT and mMRC scores were significantly lower in the TBM than UC group at 12 months (t=8.43, P<0.001; t=7.23, P<0.001). The numbers of acute exacerbations and deaths were significantly lower in the TBM than UC group at 12 months (mean MCF values were 0.35 and 0.56, respectively [difference of 0.22; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.41, -0.02; χ2=9.63, P<0.001]. The FEV1 (% pred) was significantly higher in the TBM than UC group at 12 months (t=7.45, P<0.001). General practitioners can use TBM interventions to effectively reduce anxiety, depression, and dyspnea symptoms, decrease the frequency of exacerbations and likelihood of death, and improve health-related quality of life and pulmonary function in patients with COPD. The trial was registered on the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (reference: ChiCTR-TRC-12001958).

Artificial intelligence in myopia in children: current trends and future directions.

Myopia is one of the major causes of visual impairment globally, with myopia and its complications thus placing a heavy healthcare and economic burden. With most cases of myopia developing during childhood, interventions to slow myopia progression are most effective when implemented early. To address this public health challenge, artificial intelligence has emerged as a potential solution in childhood myopia management. The bulk of artificial intelligence research in childhood myopia was previously focused on traditional machine learning models for the identification of children at high risk for myopia progression. Recently, there has been a surge of literature with larger datasets, more computational power, and more complex computation models, leveraging artificial intelligence for novel approaches including large-scale myopia screening using big data, multimodal data, and advancing imaging technology for myopia progression, and deep learning models for precision treatment. Artificial intelligence holds significant promise in transforming the field of childhood myopia management. Novel artificial intelligence modalities including automated machine learning, large language models, and federated learning could play an important role in the future by delivering precision medicine, improving health literacy, and allowing the preservation of data privacy. However, along with these advancements in technology come practical challenges including regulation and clinical integration.

The impact of public art education on college students' mental health literacy.

This study aims to explore the impact of public art education on the mental health literacy of College Students. Conducted over a four-month period, the intervention involved freshmen from a Chinese college, comparing 1,334 students in the experimental group with 1,139 in the control group. Data were collected through a self-developed questionnaire and a standardized mental health literacy scale before and after the intervention. Results showed that the experimental group's overall mental health literacy score significantly increased from 64.051 pre-intervention to 79.260 post-intervention, while the control group showed no significant changes during the same period. The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in their ability to identify psychological disorders, belief in receiving professional help, attitudes towards seeking appropriate help, and knowledge in seeking mental health information. Furthermore, the frequency of classroom interaction was positively correlated with improvements in mental health literacy (regression coefficient = 2.261***), highlighting the critical role of active participation in public art education settings. This study underscores the importance and effectiveness of implementing public art education in higher education and provides empirical support for future educational policies and practices.

Health literacy is associated with cognition and everyday functioning in a consecutive clinical series of people with epilepsy in a surgical setting

ObjectiveLow health literacy is common among people with epilepsy (PWE) and may play an important role in disease management and outcomes. The current study evaluated whether health literacy is related to cognition, health, and everyday functioning in PWE. MethodsThis cross-sectional, correlational study included 25 demographically comparable healthy adults retrospectively matched to a consecutive series of 89 PWE presenting for neuropsychological evaluation in a surgical setting and who completed the Newest Vital Sign and Brief Health Literacy Screener. The PWE also completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and measures of quality of life and everyday functioning. ResultsPWE had significantly lower health literacy as compared to healthy adults (ps < 0.05) at a medium-to-large effect size. In analyses covarying for education and oral word reading literacy in the PWE sample, lower health literacy was independently associated with bilateral seizure onsets, greater antiseizure medication burden, poorer performance on measures of memory and information processing speed, and difficulties with self-care (ps < 0.05). SignificanceFindings suggest that PWE are at risk for low health literacy, which may be partly attributable to disrupted brain-behavior relationships and contribute to poorer everyday functioning. Future studies are needed to identify effective methods to support and improve health literacy in PWE.

Impact on step count by commitment-based health application.

Prior research has implied that promoting sustaining physical activity through nudges is challenging and boosting health literacy is important for the long-term establishment of behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the effects of commitment-based health application on step count and health literacy. A control experiment was conducted involving employees from companies located in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Participants were divided into three groups: the commitment app group (utilizing a commitment-based application "Minchalle," where teams of around five members were randomly assigned to declare a target step count and report daily step count with pictures), the self-commitment group (individuals declaring a target step count and endeavoring on their own), and the control group (no intervention). Changes in step count and health literacy were examined over one month. A total of 109 employees from 7 companies participated. The changes in step count were an increase of 893 steps for the commitment app group, 243 steps for the self-commitment group, and 178 steps for the control group, with a significant increase in the commitment app group compared to the control group. Regarding health literacy measures, there was significant progress in four items out of five for the commitment app group compared to the control group, and significant progress in one item for the self-commitment group compared to the control group. Communication within the app teams, such as commitment, sharing photos of their goal achievements and provide encouraging comments to others, functioned as social nudges, suggesting the potential for an immediate increase in step count and long-term behavioral reinforcement through improved health literacy.

Health Literacy in the Short Film Stunting “Konsumsi Bergizi Bikin Glowing”

Indonesia is a developing country with a low health index, one of which is indicated by the high prevalence of stunting. Stunting is a growth disorder in children due to chronic malnutrition that has an impact on long-term physical and cognitive health. This study aims to explore the messages in the short film "Nutritious Consumption Makes You Glowing" produced by the DIY Health Service in improving adolescent health literacy related to preventing stunting through the consumption of nutritious food and blood-boosting supplements. Using a qualitative approach, this study analyzed the content of the film and relevant literature. The results showed that this film succeeded in conveying health literacy effectively through direct socialization carried out by Bu Bidan. Messages about the importance of balanced nutrition and blood supplementation are conveyed in a way that is easy for adolescents to understand and accept. Scenes in the film depict changes in healthy lifestyles that are starting to be adopted by adolescents, showing that education through audiovisual media can influence people's nutritional behavior and awareness. Thus, this short film is an effective educational tool in improving health literacy and preventing stunting among adolescents.

Determinants of Duration of Untreated Psychosis in Patients with Schizophrenia in Indonesia

Background: The duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is a crucial factor influencing the prognosis of schizophrenia, affecting long-term outcomes and treatment efficacy. Despite its importance, there is a paucity of research on the determinants of DUP in Indonesian patients with schizophrenia, highlighting the need for a focused investigation within this specific context. This study aims to identify the determinants of DUP among patients with schizophrenia in Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving patients with schizophrenia admitted to a referral psychiatric hospital in Indonesia. Data were collected using guided interviews and observations through structured questionnaires. Additionally, socio-demographic information was gathered. Results: A multiple linear regression analysis revealed that previous consultations with traditional healers (β = 21, 95% CI = 11.4 - 30.6, p = 0.001) and religious healers (β = 16.7, 95% CI = 8.2 - 25.2, p = 0.0001) were independently predicting the longer DUP. Conclusions:Treatment-seeking behavior is significantly influencing the DUP in patients with schizophrenia. Efforts should focus on improving health literacy to encourage earlier mental health treatment-seeking.

The Role of Health Literacy in Skin Cancer Preventative Behavior and Implications for Intervention: A Systematic Review.

Health literacy is essential for individuals to access, understand, and utilize information and services to inform health related decisions and actions. As one of the most diagnosed and preventable forms of cancer, skin cancer disease risk can be reduced through preventative behavior. Currently, there is no focused study looking specifically at health literacy and skin cancer. An understanding of how health literacy affects skin cancer-related preventive behaviors can improve current practices in skin cancer prevention. To systematically identify, synthesize, and summarize findings on the role of health literacy in skin cancers (including cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma), with a focus on preventive behaviors using studiesthat utilized quantifiablehealth literacy measurements. A literature search was performed by searching PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL from inception until September 26, 2023 to identify cross-sectional, case-control, cohort, or randomized controlled studies that investigated the association between health literacy and skin cancer prevention and diagnosis. Health literacy levels varied across geographic regions, specific populations, and ethnicities. Most of the included studies found a positive association between higher health literacy and better skin cancer preventative behaviors. This included sun-protective behaviors such as: wearing sleeved shirts or shirts with collars, using gloves, covering head and face, limiting sun exposure, more sunscreen use, and less sunbathing or indoor tanning. Higher health literacy was associated with increased likelihood to engage in genetic testing and less family influence on health in one study which assessed determinants of interest in skin cancer genetic testing. Another study investigating family communication about skin cancer found that higher health literacy was associated with increased family communication regarding general cancer risk. One sun protection interventional education program was effective at increasing participants' knowledge, awareness of skin cancer risk, willingness to change sun protection, and use of sun protection, but results varied between ethnic groups. Skin cancer-related educational interventions can be effective in improving health literacy and potentially lessen the impact of skin cancer through positive behavior modification, early detection, and disease knowledge and awareness. Interventions need to be tailored to its target population to maximize effectiveness due to thevarying baseline of health literacy identified across different geographic and ethnic groups. Protocol Registration PROSPERO CRD42022340826.

The association between health literacy and self-care of hypertension among older adults in five regions in Jordan

Purpose This study aims to determine the relationship between health literacy and the self-care of hypertension in older adults in five regions in Jordan. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,100 older adult patients with hypertension who had follow-ups in cardiac clinics of the five biggest hospitals in five regions of Jordan. The research instruments included a Health Literacy Questionnaire (CHEWQ) and the self-care of hypertension inventory. Findings The average health literacy score was 8.52 ± 1.6, indicating inadequate health literacy, while their self-care of hypertension score was 42.33 ± 10.9, indicating low self-care. Inadequate health literacy and factors such as marital status, education level, income and overall health status were linked to poor self-care of hypertension (p &lt; 0.05). Practical implications This study suggests that there is a need to assess the effectiveness of various health literacy interventions, such as educational programs and customized communication strategies, in enhancing self-care behaviors across diverse populations, particularly among the elderly. Originality/value The study findings highlight the need for nursing interventions aimed at improving health literacy to enhance the ability of older adults in Jordan to manage their hypertension.

Use of Generative AI for Improving Health Literacy in Reproductive Health: Case Study.

Patients find technology tools to be more approachable for seeking sensitive health-related information, such as reproductive health information. The inventive conversational ability of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, such as ChatGPT (OpenAI Inc), offers a potential means for patients to effectively locate answers to their health-related questions digitally. A pilot study was conducted to compare the novel ChatGPT with the existing Google Search technology for their ability to offer accurate, effective, and current information regarding proceeding action after missing a dose of oral contraceptive pill. A sequence of 11 questions, mimicking a patient inquiring about the action to take after missing a dose of an oral contraceptive pill, were input into ChatGPT as a cascade, given the conversational ability of ChatGPT. The questions were input into 4 different ChatGPT accounts, with the account holders being of various demographics, to evaluate potential differences and biases in the responses given to different account holders. The leading question, "what should I do if I missed a day of my oral contraception birth control?" alone was then input into Google Search, given its nonconversational nature. The results from the ChatGPT questions and the Google Search results for the leading question were evaluated on their readability, accuracy, and effective delivery of information. The ChatGPT results were determined to be at an overall higher-grade reading level, with a longer reading duration, less accurate, less current, and with a less effective delivery of information. In contrast, the Google Search resulting answer box and snippets were at a lower-grade reading level, shorter reading duration, more current, able to reference the origin of the information (transparent), and provided the information in various formats in addition to text. ChatGPT has room for improvement in accuracy, transparency, recency, and reliability before it can equitably be implemented into health care information delivery and provide the potential benefits it poses. However, AI may be used as a tool for providers to educate their patients in preferred, creative, and efficient ways, such as using AI to generate accessible short educational videos from health care provider-vetted information. Larger studies representing a diverse group of users are needed.

The sexual and reproductive health knowledge of women in Australia: A scoping review.

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge influences health literacy and promotes positive health behaviours. This scoping review explores the SRH knowledge of women in Australia and reports on knowledge assessment, ways of learning, enablers and barriers, and interventions to improve knowledge. Seven databases were searched for eligible articles published in English between 2012 and 2022. Eighty-five sources were included for analysis. Data were mapped by knowledge topic and population group and charted against four review objectives. Assessment of knowledge was the primary focus in 59% of sources. Two sources used a validated knowledge assessment tool. Knowledge was assessed using self-assessment, a measurement of correctness, or both. Women learnt about SRH through a range of sources, including healthcare providers, peers, family, internet, and school. Enablers and barriers spanned information content, delivery, timing, accessibility, interactions with those providing information, cultural and gendered norms, pre-migration experiences, and functional health literacy. Nine sources reported on interventions to facilitate SRH knowledge. This review identified topics, population groups, and gaps in assessment of SRH knowledge of women in Australia. Overall, the measurement of women's SRH knowledge is largely conducted using unvalidated tools focusing on specific topics. SO WHAT?: It is recommended a validated tool be developed to comprehensively assess the SRH knowledge of women in Australia allowing for intersectional population analysis and exploration of knowledge conceptualisation. This would enable assessment of interventions aiming to improve SRH knowledge thereby facilitating improved health literacy and outcomes.

Proportion and factors influencing healthcare-seeking behavior among older people in Motta town, East Gojjam: a community-based cross-sectional study, Ethiopia, 2023

BackgroundIn resource-limited countries, older people who are at risk and face numerous health problems, often receive insufficient attention regarding their healthcare-seeking behavior. Assessing the proportion of healthcare-seeking behavior and associated factors among older people in Motta town, was the aim of the study.MethodA community-based cross-sectional study was carried out from April 22 to May 22, 2023. The study subjects were chosen using a systematic random sampling technique. To identify candidate variables for multivariable analysis, a bivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. Variables having a P-value of < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsFrom the total, 161 (39.3%) of respondents had good healthcare-seeking behavior with 95% CI [35%, 44%]. Secondary school [AOR = 2.69, 95% CI = 1.27, 5.68], Education college and above [AOR = 4.6, 95% CI = 2.27, 9.33], Family support during their illness [AOR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.05, 3.09], Members of CBHI [AOR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.21, 3.36], and presence of chronic illness [AOR = 2.55, 95%, CI = 1.64, 3.97] were significantly associated with good healthcare-seeking behavior.Conclusion and recommendationThis study found that good healthcare-seeking behavior among older people is significantly associated with higher education, strong family support, Community-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) membership, and chronic illnesses. Improving health literacy through education, strengthening family support systems, expanding CBHI participation for better healthcare access, and developing targeted chronic disease management programs to enhance this behavior is recommended. These strategies can collectively improve healthcare utilization and outcomes for older people.

PRO-READ IR: Enhanced PROcedural Information READability for Patient-Centered Care in Interventional Radiology With Large Language Models

PurposeTo evaluate the extent to which Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4 (GPT-4) can educate patients by generating easily understandable information about the most common interventional radiology (IR) procedures. Materials and methodsWe reviewed 10 IR procedures and prepared prompts for GPT-4 to provide patient educational instructions about each procedure in layman’s terms. The instructions were then evaluated by four clinical physicians and nine nonclinical assessors to determine their clinical appropriateness, understandability, and clarity using a survey. A grade-level readability assessment was performed using validated metrics to evaluate accessibility to a wide patient population. The same procedures were also evaluated from the patient instructions available at radiologyinfo.org and compared with GPT-generated instructions utilizing a paired t test. ResultsEvaluation by four clinical physicians shows that nine GPT-generated instructions were fully appropriate, whereas arterial embolization instructions was somewhat appropriate. Evaluation by nine nonclinical assessors shows that paracentesis, dialysis catheter placement, thrombectomy, ultrasound-guided biopsy, and nephrostomy-tube instructions were rated excellent by 57% and good by 43%. The arterial embolization and biliary-drain instructions were rated excellent by 28.6% and good by 71.4%. In contrast, thoracentesis, port placement, and CT-guided biopsy instructions received 43% excellent, 43% good, and 14% fair. The readability assessment across all procedural instructions showed a better Flesch-Kincaid mean grade of GPT-4 instructions compared with radiologyinfo.org (7.8 ± 0.87 versus 9.6 ± 0.83; P = .007) indicating excellent readability at 7th- to 8th-grade level compared with 9th to 10th grade. Additionally there was a lower Gunning Fog mean index (10.4 ± 1.2 versus 12.7 ± 0.93; P = .006), and higher Flesch Reading Ease mean score (69.4 ± 4.8 versus 51.3±3.9; P = .0001) indicating better readability. ConclusionIR procedural instructions generated by GPT-4 can aid in improving health literacy and patient-centered care in IR by generating easily understandable explanations.

A Role for Health Literacy in Protecting People With Limited English Proficiency Against Falling: A Retrospective, Cohort Study

ObjectiveTo identify risk factors related to falls within the scope of speech-language pathology (SLP) using assessments from the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility-Patient Assessment Instrument over a 4-month period in 4 inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs). DesignObservational retrospective cohort study. SettingFour IRFs as part of a larger learning health system. ParticipantsAdults aged ≥18 years admitted to the IRFs from October 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023 were included. InterventionN/A. Main Outcome MeasuresOccurrence of falls. ResultsAnalyses of 631 patient records revealed that the odds of falling were almost 3 times greater in people with limited English proficiency than in English speakers (odds ratio [OR], 2.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-6.85). People with limited English proficiency who reported poorer health literacy had 4 times higher odds of falling (OR, 3.90; 95% CI, 1.13-13.44) than English speakers who reported adequate health literacy. People with limited English proficiency who reported adequate health literacy had the same risk of falling as English speakers (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.16-6.12), suggesting the protective role of health literacy for people with limited English proficiency. ConclusionsLanguage barriers have a significant effect on falls among patients in IRFs. SLPs improving health literacy and providing language support may play a crucial role in mitigating fall risk, thereby enhancing patient safety and outcomes.

Health literacy and its determinants among school-going children: a school-based cross-sectional study in Nepal.

Limited health literacy is linked to unhealthy behaviors, adverse health outcomes, poor quality of life and financial burdens on society. However, little is known about the level of health literacy, especially among school-going children. This cross-sectional study assesses health literacy levels and their determinants in 354 school children from Kathmandu Metropolitan City, utilizing a multi-stage cluster sampling method. The 10-item Health Literacy for School-Aged Children was used to measure the student's literacy levels. Bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression at the significance level of 0.05 were performed to determine factors associated with limited health literacy. The majority of participants (76.6%) had moderate health literacy, while 13.8% had a high level and 9.6% had a low level of health literacy. Students from nuclear families had lower odds [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2-0.8] of having limited health literacy. Students whose mother education was up to secondary school (aOR: 10.1; 95% CI: 1.3-78.9), students with pre-existing mental health conditions (aOR: 3.7; 95% CI: 1.4-9.6) and students with unsatisfactory health status (aOR: 3.9; 95% CI: 1.5-10.5) had higher odds to have limited health literacy. These results suggest the importance of prioritizing school health promotion and education activities for students with pre-existing mental health conditions and mothers with low educational attainment. Implementing peer support group programs for children with mental illnesses, mobilizing school health professionals and introducing interventions such as vocational training of mothers can collectively improve health literacy among school-going children.

Qualitative research on undergraduate nursing students' recognition and response to short videos’ health disinformation

BackgroundWith the popularity of the internet, short videos have become an indispensable tool to obtain health information. However, avoiding health disinformation owing to the openness of the Internet is difficult for users. Disinformation may endanger the health and lives of users. ObjectiveWith a focus on the process of identifying short videos' health disinformation and the factors affecting the accuracy of identification, this study aimed to investigate the identification methods, coping strategies, and the impact of short videos’ health disinformation on undergraduate nursing students. The findings will provide guidance to users on obtaining high-quality and healthy information, in addition to reducing health risks. MethodsSemi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 22 undergraduate nursing students in October 2022, and data were collected for collation and content analyses. ResultsThe techniques used to identify short videos that include health disinformation as well as how undergraduate nursing students perceived these videos' features are among the study's findings. The failure factors in identification, coping paths, and adverse impacts of short videos on health disinformation were analyzed. The platform, the material itself, and the students' individual characteristics all have an impact on their identifying behavior. ConclusionsMedical students continue to face many obstacles in identifying and responding to health disinformation through short videos. Preventing and stopping health disinformation not only requires individual efforts to improve health literacy and maintain rational thinking, it also requires the joint efforts of short video producers, relevant departments, and platforms.

Evaluation of home health services provided to children in Batman province

Aims: To evaluate the home health services provided to children in Batman, a province in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkiye, where the birth rate and consanguineous marriages are high. Methods: For this descriptive and cross-sectional study, data from 460 patients aged 0-18 years who received services from the Home Health Unit of Batman Training and Research Hospital between January 10, 2018, and January 10, 2023, were retrospectively scanned through the Hospital Information Management System. Results: 57.6% of the patients were male and 42.4% were female. The mean age of the patients was 10.64±4.5 years; the proportion of patients aged 0-6 years was 20%, 7-12 years was 41.1%, and 13-18 years was 38.9%. Mental retardation was observed in 15%, cerebral palsy in 42.8%, hydrocephalus in 7.8%, epilepsy in 17%, spina bifida/meningocele/meningomyelocele in 4.1%, neuromuscular and motor disorders (paresis/plegia, etc.) in 10.4%, and osteogenesis imperfecta in 3%. While 99.6% of reasons for physician visits were non-emergency, the most common reason for visits by non-physician health personnel was dressing and monitoring of fever, pulse, and blood pressure, at 94.8%. The proportion of patients in need of nursing services was 98.7%; the proportion of patients with pressure sore signs was 87.8%; and the proportion of fully dependent patients was 93.9%. Conclusion: To provide home health services more effectively and efficiently, it is necessary to increase social awareness, improve health literacy to eliminate regional differences, and expand telehealth applications. For better quality service delivery, it is of vital importance to provide periodic training to those engaged in patient care, especially on managing bed sores. In this way, home health services for children can become more accessible and effective.