Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Triaging Your Health Concerns, James Bato Borja, Jasleen Mendoza, Addie Mccuistion, Jordan Artz, Julia Greeley, Ashley Diloreto

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Improving Health Literacy on Appropriate Use of Medical Services

As part of a nursing leadership project, a team of nursing students at Seattle Pacific University (SPU) collaborated with a Washington State affordable independent living facility for seniors; they focused on providing information on the appropriate use of emergency care, urgent care, and primary care services for various health concerns. This project began with a team member recognizing a pattern within the older adult population entering the Emergency Department (ED). This observation showed that a noticeable portion of the older adult population could benefit from clarification about when to seek out …

What Are The Facilitators And Barriers To Health Literacy For African American Females In Maryland, Ages 18 Or Older, In The Medicaid Versus Commercial Lines Of Business?, Angel Oluwatumininu Benson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative case study's goal is to identify patterns in the health disparities experienced by African American women and to identify the factors that help and hinder African American females' ability to become health-literate consumers in the commercial and Medicaid markets. This study focuses on African American women's health outcomes and how they relate to health literacy. The purpose of this study is to increase health literacy for the African American population of women, specifically ages 18 and older. Various trends in health literacy are observed among all demographics. An example of this, specifically with African American women, is the …

Perceived Risks And Benefits Of Hpv Vaccination: The Role Of Cues To Action, Numeracy And, Literacy, Sierra Rae Galvan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background & Significance: The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor for both genital warts and cervical cancer. HPV strains 16 and 18 are recognized as precursors of cervical cancer. While strains 6 and 11 are estimated to cause 90% of genital warts. Latinas have the highest rate of cervical cancer in the U.S, approximately 66 % higher than non-Latino whites. These cancers are preventable in many cases through the administration of the HPV vaccine. The advisory committee on immunization practices recommends that children as young as 9 receive at least two doses of the three-dose HPV vaccine series. Consequently, …

Examining Health Literacy And Patient-Centered Communication: A Secondary Analysis Of U.S. Adults With A History Of Cancer, Kimberly Ann Dy Tomas

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Racial/ethnic communities bear a disproportionate burden when examining cancer mortality and infection-related cancer incidence rates. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), health literacy and clear communication between professionals and patients are crucial to improving health and the quality of healthcare. This study examined the relationship between personal health literacy and perceived patient-centered communication quality (PPCQ). A secondary data analysis was conducted using the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 5, Cycle 4 (2020), and STATA/BE 17.0 for Windows. The sample included respondents who have a history of cancer and have seen a healthcare provider within …

Patient Navigational Tool Increase Resource Use In A Latino Population, Kimberly Burrus

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: The practice problem is a patient navigation tool in a mobile health clinic for the Latino population to help improve utilization of resources within Daviess County, Indiana, and improve overall health literacy and health of those populations?

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: In a mobile health clinic serving Latino populations (P), does a navigation tool (I) compared to current practices (C) improve utilization of services (O) within a 12-week timeframe (T)?

Evidence: The evidence that guided this project showed patients with limited English proficiency, immigrant families have a disparity of health literacy, and an …

E-Health Literacy Scale, Patient Attitudes, Medication Adherence, And Internal Locus Of Control., Donrie J Purcell, Gesulla Cavanaugh, Kamilah Thomas-Purcell, Joshua Caballero, Drenna Waldrop, Victoria Ayala, Rosemary Davenport, Raymond L Ownby

HPD Articles

BACKGROUND: Health literacy is related to a variety of health outcomes, including disease control, health-related quality of life, and risk for death. Few studies have investigated the relation of electronic health literacy (e-health literacy) to outcomes or the mechanism by which they may be related.

METHODS: Secondary data were drawn from participants in a larger study on chronic disease self-management who were age 40 years and older, had at least one chronic health condition and a health literacy score of 8th grade or below on the validated short form of the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine. Participants completed …

Health Literacy In Older Adults: Determining Gaps In The Health Literacy Skills Of Older Adults In Saratoga Springs, New York And Suggestions For Effective Interventions, Elizah Jacobs

Self-Determined Majors Final Projects

This study aimed to understand the strengths and limitations of health literacy skills among older adults. The results informed a resource to improve any discovered gaps in health literacy. Participants (n=50) were selected through convenience sampling methods at the Saratoga Senior Center in Saratoga Springs, New York. The Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) was distributed to evaluate health literacy skills among older adults. Measures of means and standard deviations were used to assess strengths and limitations in health literacy skills among nine domains of the HLQ. The results informed the implementation of a resource designed to increase health literacy specifically for …

Effects Of Income And Language On Health Literacy: A Study Between A Student-Run Free Clinic And A Family Medicine Office, Sahil Parikh, Emily Forester, Alisha Basak, Arpan Bhagat, Leah Cliatt, Usmaan Al-Shehab, Rebecca Moore

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Over one-third of the US population exhibit limited health literacy, leading to negative health outcomes and lifestyle choices. By employing the NVS assessment, RCHC sought to compare the health literacy levels of uninsured patients at their facility with those of insured patients at the Rowan Family Medicine office in Hammonton, NJ. This study aimed to assess specific factors that may influence health literacy levels.

Methods: This is an IRB-approved study which surveyed patients enrolled at the RCHC and Rowan Family Medicine Office between February 2021 and March 2023. Patients were given a nutrition label and verbally answered the NVS …

Barriers To Dermatological Care In Patients Who Received Extensive Mohs Surgery - An In-Depth Qualitative Analysis, Stuti Prajapati, Mallory Zaino, Christina Kontzias, Laura Doerfler, Steven R. Feldman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Dermatological care needs to be accessible for the elderly, but they face prominent challenges contributing to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Prolonged management of may lead to widespread cutaneous malignancies, necessitating extensive Mohs surgery.

Objective: To identify areas for early intervention in the geriatric population who have undergone extensive Mohs surgery.

Methods: We performed a qualitative study on 10 patients 65 years and older (68-91) from Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist dermatology clinics between December 2022 and February 2023, who had extensive Mohs surgery (3 or more layers removed).

Results: Three major areas for potential intervention for cutaneous carcinoma …

Barriers To Colorectal Cancer Screening For Low-Income Hispanic Men In Urban Areas Between 50-75, Alex Vega

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Although CRC screening rates have improved in non-Hispanic whites (NHW), Hispanic adult males (HAM) aged 50-75 in urban areas continue to experience low screening rates and higher CRC morbidity and mortality. This review aims to identify the barriers to CRC screening among HAM and propose targeted interventions to increase screening rates. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Key search terms included "colorectal cancer", "screening", "Hispanic adult males", "urban", "barriers", and "interventions". Factors identified include poverty, language …

Young Adult Cancer Patients And Survivors’ Adherence To Healthy Eating And Physical Activity Guidelines, Sandra Soca Lozano

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Many Adolescents and Young Adult (AYA) cancer patients/survivors do not engage in healthy eating and physical activity recommendations. The present study assessed the role of race/ethnicity, health literacy, and home environmental influences and its association with adherence to healthy eating and physical activity. AYA patients/survivors from Moffitt Cancer Center (n = 273) completed an anonymous online survey. Self-reported measures about eating habits, physical activity, health literacy, and social support were used. Black/African Americans reported worse eating habits than White and Hispanic participants. Obese participants showed a similar trend compared to all other Body Mass Index groups. Adherence to physical activity …

Mouth Care Is Self-Care, Abigail Waunch, Katelynn Huot, Aleya J. Germany, Oleksandra Shmatok, Elizabeth M. Cortes, Cortney M. Firns

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

In February of 2023, six Seattle Pacific University (SPU) nursing students partnered with a Seattle rehab agency to deliver mouth care education while prioritizing the health literacy level of the community. The agency aims to foster an inclusive and empathetic environment that builds a diverse community for those traumatized by homelessness, addiction, and mental health (Recovery Café, n.d.). The nursing group upheld the agency's mission with honor and respect during each project step. The special projects manager of the agency expressed a lack of health literacy among members. Tailoring health literacy to the appropriate education level has significantly improved dental …

Impact Of A Workplace Wellness Program On Health Literacy And Type 2 Diabetes Management Among Blue-Collar Workers In South Carolina, Caitlin E. Townsend

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The prevalence of chronic diseases and their management is significantly different between blue- and white-collar employees. Social determinants of health are determining factors of health for blue-collar manufacturing employees in South Carolina. Type 2 Diabetes is a complex chronic condition that has been associated with serious co-morbidities, but it can be managed and/or treated. Workplace wellness programs provide an ideal setting for health education and promotion efforts targeted toward population health management. While workplace wellness programs have been proven successful, there is limited research on the relationship and impact on health literacy. This quantitative, descriptive study used secondary data to …

Client Perceptions On The Value Of Pre-Surgical Education Regarding The Recovery Process After Carpometacarpal Arthroplasty, Alice J. Mullholand

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Executive Summary

Background: The delivery of client education is an intervention that has a substantial influence on healthcare outcomes. However, the significance of preoperative education for outpatient hand treatments remains inadequately supported by research. Occupational therapists possess the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively address the issue of health literacy and make valuable contributions toward the promotion of health equity. The existing research fails to provide adequate evidence to support the claim that preoperative education is important for outpatient hand procedures. It is important to promote the adoption of best practices and enhance clients' health literacy regarding hand surgery to …

Understanding Language Barriers And Its Implications On Patient Outcomes In The Urgent Care Situation, Nicolo Co

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background

A common goal for healthcare is healthcare for all, through which can be achieved when communication between the client and healthcare team is established. There are millions of immigrants worldwide who are not granted the healthcare that they deserve simply because of a lack of understanding in a country’s dominant language.

Patients with a limited language proficiency in a new country can have difficulty in understanding the care that they receive, which leads them to toil with understanding their healthcare options, let alone establishing expectations. This issue also stretches onto the risks of patient safety, in which urgent needs …

Improving Patient Outcomes In Substance Use Disorder Through Behavioral Therapy In Depression Development And Impacts Of Social Determinants Of Health During And After Substance Use Treatment, Jerry Ryan Armstrong, Chyanne Napp

Doctoral Projects

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a growing problem in the United States (U.S.) and worldwide and relapse is a common occurrence among those facing SUD. Limited scholarly research has been published addressing evidence-based treatment improvement strategies. This study focused on improving SUD treatment through the incorporation of depression tracking from admission to and discharge from inpatient treatment, as well as the incorporation of social determinants of health education during treatment, with an evaluation of relapse rates 30-days after inpatient treatment discharge. Results indicated a significant improvement in depression scores from admission to discharge. Results also revealed improved knowledge regarding social …

Creative Methods For Improving Health Literacy In Underserved Communities, Riley Clark, Grace Lance, Beth Reid, Jenny Nguyen, Makenzie Mclauchlan, Kiara Maningat

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

In 2003, Recovery Café was founded with the goal of providing long-term recovery support to those in the margins, including those experiencing homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges (Recovery Café, 2022). Recovery Café provides members with the support needed to gain and maintain access to housing, social and health services, healthy relationships, education, and employment (Recovery Café, 2022). Recovery Café provides this support by offering a safe space, with nutritious meals, fostering a loving community, and providing resources such as educational opportunities, 12-step meetings, and referral services (Recovery Café, 2022). In 2022, the Seattle Pacific University Lydia Green Nursing Program …

Creative Methods For Improving Health Literacy In Underserved Communities, Grace Lance, Riley Clark, Beth Reid, Makenzie Mclauchlan, Jenny Nguyen, Kiara Maningat

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Creative Methods for Improving Health Literacy in Underserved Communities

In 2003, Recovery Café was founded with the goal of providing long-term recovery support to those in the margins, including those experiencing homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges (Recovery Café, 2022). Recovery Café provides members with the support needed to gain and maintain access to housing, social and health services, healthy relationships, education, and employment (Recovery Café, 2022). Recovery Café provides this support by offering a safe space, with nutritious meals, fostering a loving community, and providing resources such as educational opportunities, 12-step meetings, and referral services (Recovery Café, 2022). In …

Correlates Of Health Literacy And Perceptions Of Burden Among Caregivers Of Persons Diagnosed With Chronic Illnesses, Mubarak Aldawsare

Dissertations

Background/Rationale: Greater attention is needed on factors effectively supporting caregivers because poor well-being of caregivers can hamper overall patient outcomes. Lack of awareness of caregiver burden has implications for healthcare systems globally. Caregivers may encounter various levels of burden as a result of providing long-term care to individuals diagnosed with one or more chronic illnesses. Caregivers with inadequate health literacy are more likely to experience feelings of uncertainty, and as a result, caregiver burden. Little is known about the impact of the health literacy of caregivers on the level of burden when providing care to individuals with complex care …

Improving Health Literacy In Underserved Youth, Paul Lee, Stephanie Parks, Sydney Wiredu, Dhaval Shah, Archana Salek

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Health literacy is an individual’s capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions. There are disparities in health literacy across age, gender, ethnicity, location and socioeconomic status. Children aged 12-17 are an important target group regarding health literacy research because of the fundamental cognitive, physical and emotional development processes occurring that affect health related skills and behaviors.

The objectives of this project were to:

• Identify the disparities of health literacy in varying demographics with regards to age, gender, location and socioeconomic areas
• Determine barriers affecting health literacy comprehension and knowledge in the target …

The Influence Of Parental Knowledge Of Nutrition Labels On Child Bmi, Daniella R. Toto, Alexander Kowalski

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The purpose of this study is to better understand parental knowledge of nutrition labels and how this knowledge affects their child’s BMI. A large proportion of US parents have limited health literacy skills on how to read and use labels. Socioeconomic status and other demographics may affect this knowledge. We predict that children of parents who lack nutrition label knowledge will have higher BMIs than children whose parents have nutrition label knowledge.

Income And Its Effects On Health Literacy: A Study Between A Student-Run Free Clinic And A Family Medicine Office, Shayna Peterzell, Sahil Parikh, Thomas Ruta, Rabiye Ayaz, Srujan Dadi, Emily Forester, Olivia Choi, Rachel Fletcher-Slater, Melodi Harfouche, John Cruz, Roma Padalkar, Sobiah Khan, Rebecca Moore

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

More than 1/3 of people nationwide (80+ million) have limited health literacy, which contributes to poor health outcomes and lifestyle choices. Health literacy is defined as the understanding and application of words, numbers & documents (i.e., medication labels, medical forms). The Rowan Community Health Center (RCHC), located in Lindenwold NJ, is a student-run clinic that wanted to assess the health literacy of our patients in order to further provide better care. RCHC provides cost-free primary care services regardless of income, insurance, or legal status. To assess health literacy, RCHC used the New Vital Signs (NVS) literacy assessment tool to investigate …

A Survey To Determine The Relationship Between Health Literacy And Vaccine Hesitancy In College Students At Butler University, Lindsey Schreiber

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The prolonged pandemic has proven the need for vaccines to protect the public against COVID-19. The goal of immunity across populations has been hindered by vaccine refusal and vaccine hesitancy. Finding the root of this hesitancy could be critical in increasing vaccination, which is needed to alleviate the strain that Coronavirus has had on the world. A Qualtrics skip logic survey was created that collected demographic information, vaccine status, vaccine influences, vaccine concerns, and The Newest Vital Sign, a health literacy assessment. The purpose of this study was to find a relationship between health literacy and vaccine hesitancy in order …

Missed Opportunities In Social Media To Reduce Maternal Health Disparities For Black Women, Nerissa George

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Pregnancy-related maternal morbidity and mortality disproportionately affect Black women more than their White counterparts. Black pregnant women are more likely to omit or engage in prenatal care late than White women. Social media is an essential source of pregnancy-related information and shows it effectively improves pregnancy knowledge. Greater than 80% of Black women own a mobile device, and some data demonstrate that Black women use social media for pregnancy-related information. However, little is known about social media use during pregnancy for this population. Several gaps exist about what maternal health content is available on social media, how Black women use …

Development Of Training Curriculum To Improve Patient Communication Skills And Social Support Among Community Health Workers, Jennifer Holcomb, Gayla M Ferguson, Logan Thornton, Linda Highfield

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Effective provider communication skills are important for patient decision-making and understanding, particularly for those with low health literacy. A gap exists in training methods and curriculum for community health workers (CHWs). Brief description of activity: Through a clinical and academic partnership, pilot training curriculum focused on patient communication skills was developed to align with CHW scope of work.

IMPLEMENTATION: The curriculum was implemented in three 2-hour training sessions over WebEx with seven state-certified CHWs. The goal was for CHWs to understand the key elements and application of active listening, Teach Back, and action planning in a clinical setting. The …

Improving Heart Failure Patient Referrals To The Center For Advanced Heart Failure & Pulmonary Vascular Disease At Hartford Hospital: A Quality Improvement Project, Dawn M. Surprenant

DNP Projects

Significance and Background: According to the Health Resources & Services Administration (2021), health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to process and understand basic health information to make appropriate health decisions. Low health literacy is prevalent in populations such as older adults, minorities, and in individuals with lower socioeconomic status and living in medical underserved areas. Recommendations are to access health literacy in cardiac patients, especially in the acute care setting to improve health outcomes upon discharge.

Purpose: To determine whether a health literacy assessment in hospitalized congested heart failure patients, before discharge, will affect referral …

The Importance Of Health Literacy: A Student-Led Workshop On Lay Communication, Sarah Jean Kamp, Jafra D. Thomas

Kinesiology and Public Health

The purpose of this experiential senior project workshop was to advance the knowledge and practice of health communication by (a) delivering a training workshop to Cal Poly undergraduate students and (b) by exploring the relationship between health literacy and effective communication through completion of a rapid review of the literature. The reviewed literature served the purpose of helping the student further design the workshop to elicit a foundational understanding of the elements of effective communication of health information as well as the history and evolution of health literacy as a concept. The workshop revised and delivered by the student was …

Health Educators’ Perspectives On Black And Latin@ College Students’ Health Literacy, Desiree Williams Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractEmerging adulthood is a critical life stage when participation in higher education can facilitate the transition of young individuals into adulthood and independence. The barriers associated with low health literacy levels are higher among racial or ethnic groups facing health inequalities, including those enrolled in higher education institutions. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how health educators promoted the health literacy of Black and Latino emerging adult college students. The theoretical framework was based on Bandura’s social cognitive theory. Eight health professionals who served to promote health literacy across diverse college campuses and different states in …

Predictors Of Health Literacy Scores In The Adolescent Oncologic Population, Amber N. Jenkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent research showed a relationship between low health literacy in adult oncology patients, poor communication with providers, misconceptions about disease and treatment options, and the inability to adhere to treatment plans. Comparative literature addressing adolescent health literacy contained insufficient evidence of these relationships. The purpose of this exploratory cross-sectional quantitative study, based on the health literacy skills framework, was to assess the health literacy of adolescents treated in the oncology department at an academic children’s hospital in Missouri to determine whether there was a significant relationship between individual health literacy scores of this population based on age, sex, number of …

Association Between Health Literacy Levels And Behavioral Health Hospitalizations And Emergency Department Utilization In The United States, Rebecca Lynn Hoen

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Behavioral health disorders are common in the United States (US) and are associated with potentially preventable high-cost health care utilization, such as inpatient hospitalization and emergency department utilization. Health literacy (HL) may be an important modifiable contributing factor to this preventable utilization, as limited health literacy is common in the US and has been linked to increased risk of hospitalization and emergency department utilization. However, few published studies have examined the association between health literacy and behavioral health disorders, and no studies have examined either the association between health literacy and utilization or the potential effects HL interventions might have …