Community voices in health literacy
A qualitative exploration into perceptions of a health literacy mediator
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22944016 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Madeline Spencer (0000-0001-9440-6885, University of Tasmania), Vaughan Cruickshank (0000-0002-9766-6807, University of Tasmania), Nenagh Kemp (0000-0002-8214-5427, University of Tasmania), Rosie Nash (0000-0003-3695-0887, University of Tasmania) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Publication date | 2024-10-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Health Promotion International (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1093/heapro/daae130 |
| PMID | 39397747 |
| OpenAlex | W4403379353 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 43 |
Health literacy is a vital asset needed to empower individuals to take control of their health. An individual’s health literacy is the ability to find, use and apply health information and services to manage their health. They interact with the health services and members of their community who can offer additional support. Creating the role of a health literacy mediator (HLM) may help to improve health literacy outcomes for all. For this role to be accepted by individuals within a community, the community itself should be involved in the development of the roles and associated responsibilities. The aim of this study was to engage with community members to acquire their perspectives on the potential of this role. Qualitative semi-structured online interviews were used to engage in discussions with local community members. This study implemented a constructivist epistemology with qualitative research design. Data were thematically analysed to identify evolving themes that were important to the HLM role. The analysis identified three main themes that need to be considered when adopting an HLM role: (i) health empowerment of individuals, organizations and communities, (ii) meeting the needs of the community and (iii) addressing the existing barriers in navigating and accessing the healthcare system. Those working in the health promotion space must adopt novel and innovative ways to improve HL on both a local and an international scale. This study concluded that for the role of a HLM to be accepted, it would need to encompass these attributes.
Community health · Empowerment · Health care · Health literacy · Health promotion · Literacy · Pedagogy · Political science · Public health · Public relations · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology · Health Literacy and Information Accessibility · Medicine · Mobile Health and mHealth Applications · Nursing · Psychology
What are Health Disparities and Health Equity? We Need to Be Clear
Taking action on the social determinants of health in clinical practice
Fair society, healthy lives
Understanding and Responding to Health Literacy as a Social Determinant of Health
Health literacy as a public health goal
Health literacy and public health
Closing the gap in a generation
Can internet surveys represent the entire population? A practitioners’ analysis
To saturate or not to saturate? Questioning data saturation as a useful concept for thematic analysis and sample-size rationales
Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis
Health literacy meets the life-course perspective
Moving Health Literacy Research and Practice towards a Vision of Equity, Precision and Transparency
Systematic development and implementation of interventions to OPtimise Health Literacy and Access (Ophelia)
The OPtimising HEalth LIterAcy (Ophelia) process
Life Course Approaches to the Causes of Health Disparities
The Nexus Between Health Literacy and Empowerment
Demonstrating Rigor Using Thematic Analysis
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |