Social Health Literacy Research Articles

1.L. Workshop: The social dimension of health literacy: empirical research and new insights

Abstract Background The social dimension of health literacy, also referred to as social health literacy or distributed health literacy, is meaningful and captures important aspects of the concept that areavailable within the social environment of people. While many studies in the realm of public health research, both qualitative and quantitative, rather focus the individual context of health literacy, research on the inherent social aspects of health literacy and how social environments and structures impact health literacy are scarce. However, in the recent years the body of empirical health literacy research that particularly looks at the social level and considers the social environment in which people live is growing and helps us to conceptualise health literacy as a resource that exists at a community as well as at an individual level. Studies focusing the social dimension of health literacy are based on sociological theories and socio-ecological concepts. In this new realm of empirical research, new approaches have emerged. Among which are, e.g., the analysis of social practices of health literacy, consideration of social networks and how they shape health literacy and health care interaction, the investigation of how health literacy is distributed within the social environment, how conditions within settings enable or impede that people use health literacy to make healthy decisions, and how this can facilitate an understanding of the wider determinants of health and agency for change across communities. These new approaches are deeply rooted in the fact that health literacy is always socially embedded. In daily life, the ability to make good health decisions, manage health information appropriately, or communicate effectively are influenced by one's social network. Objectives The purpose of this workshop is to focus on research on ‘social health literacy’. In the first part we will present and discuss insights from 4 projects that focus on the social aspect of health literacy. (i) The first presentation will introduce new findings in critical health literacy, which enables individuals and communities to reflect on the wider determinants of health. (ii) The second presentation will focus on key insights from a regional effort to build a health literacy community through social networks. (iii) The third presentation will focus on health literacy practices in a social online environment. (iv) The final presentation will illuminate medication safety through a social determinants of health and health literacy. Each project will be given 12 minutes (8 mins presentation & 4 mins for Q&A). The participants in turn will learn about recent results they can use in public health research, practice and policy. The second part of the workshop is dedicated to discuss best practices regarding cross-national comparative research in the field of social health literacy and vision future project opportunities. Key messages • The social dimension of health literacy have emerged in the past years and illuminates how social networks, environments and settings influence how and if people achieve their health goals. • This workshop will encourage and support research on health literacy in a social context, both for individual and in social networks of organizations, aiming at targeted approaches and heath equity.

Interventions to improve health literacy among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples: a systematic review

BackgroundAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to experience poorer health outcomes than other population groups. While data specific to Indigenous Australians are scarce, a known social health literacy gradient exists linking low health literacy and poor health outcomes within many minority populations. Improving health literacy among Indigenous Australians is an important way to support self-determination and autonomy in both individuals and communities, by enhancing knowledge and improving health outcomes. This review aims to rigorously examine the effectiveness of health literacy interventions targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.MethodsA systematic review across six databases (The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS, ProQuest Dissertation and Thesis and Web of Science) was performed for publications evaluating interventions to improve health literacy among Indigenous Australian adults using search terms identifying a range of related outcomes.ResultsOf 824 articles retrieved, a total of five studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in this review. The included studies evaluated the implementation of workshops, structured exercise classes and the provision of discounted fruit and vegetables to improve nutrition, modify risk factors for chronic diseases, and improve oral health literacy. All interventions reported statistically significant improvement in at least one measured outcome. However, there was limited involvement of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members in the research process and participant retention rates were sub-optimal.ConclusionThere is limited evidence on interventions to improve health literacy in Indigenous Australian adults. Participation in interventions was often suboptimal and loss to follow-up was high. Future studies co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members are needed to improve health literacy in this population.

Social health literacy: Existing evidence, research gaps, and future directions

Social health literacy: Existing evidence, research gaps, and future directions

Social health literacy: Existing evidence, research gaps, and future directions

Social health literacy: Existing evidence, research gaps, and future directions