Link between health status, health literacy and internet use among rural low income mothers

4/6/2012Link between health status, health literacy and Internet use among rural low income mothers Kimberly Greder, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Human Development & Family Studies Iowa State University Yoshie Sano, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Human Development, Washington State University- Vancouver Sheila Mammen, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Resource Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst 1

4/6/2012 Health literacy The capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information andservices needed to make appropriate health decisions (Ratzan & Parker 2000).Health literacy Adult health status• Years of formal schooling• Health status• Income/poverty level• Age Health literacy• Race/ethnicity• Citizenship status• Reading practices• Civic behavior 2

4/6/2012Who is most vulnerable forlow health literacy? Racial/ethnic minorities Rural residents People with less than a high school education People who are over the age of 65Low Health literacy Worse Health • Poorer health choices • Riskier behaviors • Higher mortality • More hospitalizations • Higher health costs 3

4/6/2012 Internet usage increases social capital by facilitating communication with strong and weak social ties, across distance and time.While most U.S. residents like online sources of health information,rural residents are less likely to report general Internet use orhealth-related Internet use. Potential reasons: lower educationlevels and less broadband access among rural residents Conference theme: Partnerships to Improve the Health of the Nation 4

4/6/2012Wave 1: 186 familiesIA, MA, WA http://ruralfamiliesspeak.org/ 2% 2% 1% Hispanic/Latino Non-Hispanic White African American Native American Multi-Racial 41% 54% 5

4/6/2012 70 60 50Number of mothers 40 30 20 10 0 8th grade or less Some high school High school/GED Technical training Some college College graduate including AA and above Marital Status Single/Never married Divorced/Widowed 18% 23% Married Language of Interview Living with Partner 11% English Spanish 48% 47% 53% 6

4/6/2012What is the relationship between mothers who speakSpanish and mothers who speak English and their use ofthe Internet to find health information for themselves ortheir children?What is the relationship between…•mothers’ health status and use ofthe Internet to find health information?•children’s health status and use ofthe Internet to find health information? * Mothers who used the Internet for Do you use the Internet to find information information about child’s health, about your or your child’s health? rated child’s health status better . 70% Spanish 60% English 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% For mother For child 7

4/6/2012 Where do you access the Internet most often? 70% Spanish 60% English 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Home Library Relative/Friend Work Other 50 45 40 35Number of mothers 30 25 English Spanish 20 15 10 5 0 Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor 8

4/6/2012 35 30 25Number of mothers 20 English Spanish 15 10 5 0 Excellent Very good Good Fair 60 50 40 Number of mothers Internet users 30 Non-internet users 20 10 0 Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor 9

4/6/2012 40 35 30 Internet usersNumber of mothers 25 Non-internet 20 users 15 10 5 0 Excellent Very good Good Fair How often do you need to have someone help you when you read instructions, pamphlets, or other written materials from your doctor, pharmacy, or insurance company? 80% Spanish 70% English 60% 50% *Children’s health was significantly related to 40% needing assistance in reading print materials 30% 20% 10% 0% Never Sometimes Often 10

4/6/2012 • How can you apply these findings to your work with rural, low-income families that have young children? • What are you currently doing that you should continue to do? • What could you do differently? • What additional research is needed?• Print remains relevant option for providing health information• Hire/train bi-cultural, bi-lingual Latinos who understand acculturation issues to design and deliver health education• Educational programs available in Spanish - minimum, an interpreter available• Consent, program enrollment forms, promotional and program materials reviewed or developed by people fluent in Spanish and English and who have a good understanding of Latino culture, acculturation issues, and principles/practices of effectively translating written information. 11

4/6/2012• Training needed to… • recognize specific health literacy needs of ethnically/racially diverse rural low income families • help families navigate health service systems• Review forms/written activities and office signage to ensure information is understandable; ask families for feedback to improve forms.• Review information you prepare for the media (radio psa’s, news articles) to ensure health literacy principles and practices are followed.• Bring stakeholders, including low income families, together to learn how poor health literacy is detrimental to individual and population health. Brainstorm potential do-able action steps for families and the community. • Explore rural low income mother’s preferences for receiving health information • Explore effectiveness of the structure and design of health materials in prompting rural low income mothers to take specific actions to maintain or improve their health. 12

Link between health status, health literacy and internet use among rural low income mothers

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Link between health status, health literacy and internet use among rural low income mothers Document Transcript