IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i20p7650-d431867.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Moving Health Literacy Research and Practice towards a Vision of Equity, Precision and Transparency

Author

Listed:
  • Shuaijun Guo

    (Centre for Community Child Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
    Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia)

  • Xiaoming Yu

    (Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China)

  • Orkan Okan

    (Centre for Prevention and Intervention in Childhood and Adolescence (CPI), Faculty of Educational Science, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany)

Abstract

Over the past two decades, health literacy research has gained increasing attention in global health initiatives to reduce health disparities. While it is well-documented that health literacy is associated with health outcomes, most findings are generated from cross-sectional data. Along with the increasing importance of health literacy in policy, there is a lack of specificity and transparency about how to improve health literacy in practice. In this study, we are calling for a shift of current research paradigms from judging health literacy levels towards observing how health literacy skills are developed over the life course and practised in the real world. This includes using a life-course approach, integrating the rationale of precision public health, applying open science practice, and promoting actionable knowledge translation strategies. We show how a greater appreciation for these paradigms promises to advance health literacy research and practice towards an equitable, precise, transparent, and actionable vision.

Suggested Citation

  • Shuaijun Guo & Xiaoming Yu & Orkan Okan, 2020. "Moving Health Literacy Research and Practice towards a Vision of Equity, Precision and Transparency," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:20:p:7650-:d:431867
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/20/7650/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/20/7650/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nutbeam, Don, 2008. "The evolving concept of health literacy," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(12), pages 2072-2078, December.
    2. Jie Li & Megan Mocko, 2020. "Machine learning for a citizen data scientist: an experience with JMP," Journal of Marketing Analytics, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(4), pages 267-279, December.
    3. Christopher Allen & David M A Mehler, 2019. "Open science challenges, benefits and tips in early career and beyond," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(5), pages 1-14, May.
    4. Tetine Sentell & Sandra Vamos & Orkan Okan, 2020. "Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Health Literacy Research Around the World: More Important Than Ever in a Time of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-13, April.
    5. Orkan Okan & Torsten Michael Bollweg & Eva-Maria Berens & Klaus Hurrelmann & Ullrich Bauer & Doris Schaeffer, 2020. "Coronavirus-Related Health Literacy: A Cross-Sectional Study in Adults during the COVID-19 Infodemic in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-20, July.
    6. Kristine Crondahl & Leena Eklund Karlsson, 2016. "The Nexus Between Health Literacy and Empowerment," SAGE Open, , vol. 6(2), pages 21582440166, April.
    7. Peltzer, Samia & Hellstern, Marc & Genske, Anna & Jünger, Saskia & Woopen, Christiane & Albus, Christian, 2020. "Health literacy in persons at risk of and patients with coronary heart disease: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    8. Don Nutbeam, 2009. "Defining and measuring health literacy: what can we learn from literacy studies?," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 54(5), pages 303-305, October.
    9. Anita Trezona & Gill Rowlands & Don Nutbeam, 2018. "Progress in Implementing National Policies and Strategies for Health Literacy—What Have We Learned so Far?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-17, July.
    10. Nosek, Brian A. & Ebersole, Charles R. & DeHaven, Alexander Carl & Mellor, David Thomas, 2018. "The Preregistration Revolution," OSF Preprints 2dxu5, Center for Open Science.
    11. Doris Schaeffer & Svea Gille & Klaus Hurrelmann, 2020. "Implementation of the National Action Plan Health Literacy in Germany—Lessons Learned," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-13, June.
    12. Alexandra Fretian & Torsten Michael Bollweg & Orkan Okan & Paulo Pinheiro & Ullrich Bauer, 2020. "Exploring Associated Factors of Subjective Health Literacy in School-Aged Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-13, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ingrid Espegren Dalsmo & Kristin Haraldstad & Berit Johannessen & Olav Johannes Hovland & Mercy G. Chiduo & Liv Fegran, 2021. "“Now I Feel That I Can Achieve Something”: Young Tanzanian Women’s Experiences of Empowerment by Participating in Health Promotion Campaigns," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-10, August.
    2. Catherine L. Jenkins & Susie Sykes & Jane Wills, 2022. "Public Libraries as Supportive Environments for Children’s Development of Critical Health Literacy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Marla T. H. Hahnraths & Monique Heijmans & Torsten M. Bollweg & Orkan Okan & Maartje Willeboordse & Jany Rademakers, 2021. "Measuring and Exploring Children’s Health Literacy in The Netherlands: Translation and Adaptation of the HLS-Child-Q15," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-11, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Veronica Velasco & Andrea Gragnano & Gruppo Regionale HBSC Lombardia 2018 & Luca Piero Vecchio, 2021. "Health Literacy Levels among Italian Students: Monitoring and Promotion at School," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-13, September.
    2. Hannah R. Goss & Craig Smith & Laura Hickey & Johann Issartel & Janis Morrissey & Celine Murrin & Ailbhe Spillane & Sarahjane Belton, 2022. "Using Co-Design to Develop a Health Literacy Intervention with Socially Disadvantaged Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-16, April.
    3. Chiara Lorini & Veronica Velasco & Guglielmo Bonaccorsi & Kevin Dadaczynski & Orkan Okan & Patrizio Zanobini & Luca P. Vecchio, 2022. "Validation of the COVID-19 Digital Health Literacy Instrument in the Italian Language: A Cross-Sectional Study of Italian University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-17, May.
    4. Rafaela Rosário & Maria R. O. Martins & Cláudia Augusto & Maria José Silva & Silvana Martins & Ana Duarte & Inês Fronteira & Neida Ramos & Orkan Okan & Kevin Dadaczynski, 2020. "Associations between COVID-19-Related Digital Health Literacy and Online Information-Seeking Behavior among Portuguese University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Patrizio Zanobini & Marco Del Riccio & Chiara Lorini & Guglielmo Bonaccorsi, 2024. "Empowering Sustainable Healthcare: The Role of Health Literacy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-12, May.
    6. Leena Paakkari & Minna Torppa & Joanna Mazur & Zuzana Boberova & Gorden Sudeck & Michal Kalman & Olli Paakkari, 2020. "A Comparative Study on Adolescents’ Health Literacy in Europe: Findings from the HBSC Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-12, May.
    7. Pilar Bas-Sarmiento & María José Lamas-Toranzo & Martina Fernández-Gutiérrez & Miriam Poza-Méndez, 2022. "Health Literacy, Misinformation, Self-Perceived Risk and Fear, and Preventive Measures Related to COVID-19 in Spanish University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-18, November.
    8. Mitja Vrdelja & Sanja Vrbovšek & Vito Klopčič & Kevin Dadaczynski & Orkan Okan, 2021. "Facing the Growing COVID-19 Infodemic: Digital Health Literacy and Information-Seeking Behaviour of University Students in Slovenia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-16, August.
    9. Shyam Sundar Budhathoki & Melanie Hawkins & Gerald Elsworth & Michael T. Fahey & Jeevan Thapa & Sandeepa Karki & Lila Bahadur Basnet & Paras K. Pokharel & Richard H. Osborne, 2022. "Use of the English Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) with Health Science University Students in Nepal: A Validity Testing Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-14, March.
    10. Veronika Anselmann & Simone Halder & Sophie Sauer, 2024. "Nursing Students’ Health Literacy and Strategies to Foster Patients’ Health Literacy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(8), pages 1-9, August.
    11. Rafaela Rosário & Inês Fronteira & Maria R. O. Martins & Cláudia Augusto & Maria José Silva & Melanie Messer & Silvana Martins & Ana Duarte & Neida Ramos & Katharina Rathmann & Orkan Okan & Kevin Dada, 2022. "Infodemic Preparedness and COVID-19: Searching about Public Health and Social Measures Is Associated with Digital Health Literacy in University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-9, September.
    12. Hanne Søberg Finbråten & Peter Nowak & Robert Griebler & Éva Bíró & Mitja Vrdelja & Rana Charafeddine & Lennert Griese & Henrik Bøggild & Doris Schaeffer & Thomas Link & Zdenek Kucera & Julien Mancini, 2022. "The HLS 19 -COM-P, a New Instrument for Measuring Communicative Health Literacy in Interaction with Physicians: Development and Validation in Nine European Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-23, September.
    13. Aldo Rosano & Chiara Lorini & Brigid Unim & Robert Griebler & Chiara Cadeddu & Luca Regazzi & Daniela Galeone & Luigi Palmieri, 2022. "Coronavirus-Related Health Literacy: A Cross-Sectional Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-13, March.
    14. Hicks, Alison, 2022. "The missing link: Towards an integrated health and information literacy research agenda," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    15. Verna B. McKenna & Jane Sixsmith & Margaret M. Barry, 2018. "A Qualitative Study of the Development of Health Literacy Capacities of Participants Attending a Community-Based Cardiovascular Health Programme," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-19, June.
    16. Kristy Howells & Tara Coppinger, 2022. "The Forgotten Age Phase of Healthy Lifestyle Promotion? A Preliminary Study to Examine the Potential Call for Targeted Physical Activity and Nutrition Education for Older Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-19, May.
    17. Chinn, Deborah, 2011. "Critical health literacy: A review and critical analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(1), pages 60-67, July.
    18. Madalina Adina Coman & Andreea Marcu & Razvan Mircea Chereches & Jarkko Leppälä & Stephan Van Den Broucke, 2020. "Educational Interventions to Improve Safety and Health Literacy Among Agricultural Workers: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-15, February.
    19. Sandra Kirchhoff & Kevin Dadaczynski & Jürgen M. Pelikan & Inge Zelinka-Roitner & Christina Dietscher & Uwe H. Bittlingmayer & Orkan Okan, 2022. "Organizational Health Literacy in Schools: Concept Development for Health-Literate Schools," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-12, July.
    20. Elisabeth Rohwer & Natascha Mojtahedzadeh & Felix Alexander Neumann & Albert Nienhaus & Matthias Augustin & Volker Harth & Birgit-Christiane Zyriax & Stefanie Mache, 2021. "The Role of Health Literacy among Outpatient Caregivers during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-25, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:20:p:7650-:d:431867. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.