Children and young people constitute a core target group for health literacy research and practice: during childhood and youth, fundamental cognitive, physical and emotional development processes ...take place and health-related behaviours and skills develop. However, there is limited knowledge and academic consensus regarding the abilities and knowledge a child or young person should possess for making sound health decisions. The research presented in this review addresses this gap by providing an overview and synthesis of current understandings of health literacy in childhood and youth. Furthermore, the authors aim to understand to what extent available models capture the unique needs and characteristics of children and young people.
Six databases were systematically searched with relevant search terms in English and German. Of the n = 1492 publications identified, N = 1021 entered the abstract screening and N = 340 full-texts were screened for eligibility. A total of 30 articles, which defined or conceptualized generic health literacy for a target population of 18 years or younger, were selected for a four-step inductive content analysis.
The systematic review of the literature identified 12 definitions and 21 models that have been specifically developed for children and young people. In the literature, health literacy in children and young people is described as comprising variable sets of key dimensions, each appearing as a cluster of related abilities, skills, commitments, and knowledge that enable a person to approach health information competently and effectively and to derive at health-promoting decisions and actions.
Identified definitions and models are very heterogeneous, depicting health literacy as multidimensional, complex construct. Moreover, health literacy is conceptualized as an action competence, with a strong focus on personal attributes, while also recognising its interrelatedness with social and contextual determinants. Life phase specificities are mainly considered from a cognitive and developmental perspective, leaving children's and young people's specific needs, vulnerabilities, and social structures poorly incorporated within most models. While a critical number of definitions and models were identified for youth or secondary school students, similar findings are lacking for children under the age of ten or within a primary school context.
•Health literacy (HL) is essential to control the pandemic.•Should infection numbers surge again HL can help prevent the resumption of restrictions.•We describe the extent of existing research on HL ...in the context of previous coronavirus outbreaks.•Type of assessment of the domains of HL varied widely.•Studies that examine interventions to improve pandemic related HL are needed.
The aim of this rapid scoping review, for which only studies from the general population were considered, was to describe the extent of existing research on HL in the context of previous coronavirus outbreaks (SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2).
We searched major databases and included publications of quantitative and qualitative studies in English and German on any type of research on the functional, critical and communicative domains of HL conducted in the context of the three outbreaks in the general population. We extracted and tabulated relevant data and narratively reported where and when the study was conducted, the design and method used, and how HL was measured.
72 studies were included. Three investigated HL or explicitly referred to the concept of HL, 14 were guided by health behaviour theory. We did not find any study designed to develop or psychometrically evaluate pandemic/epidemic HL instruments, or relate pandemic/epidemic or general HL to a pandemic/epidemic outcome, or any controlled intervention study. Type of assessment of the domains of HL varied widely.
Theory-driven observational studies and interventions, examining whether pandemic-related HL can be improved are needed.
The development and validation of instruments that measure pandemic-related HL is desirable.
Despite proven benefits of regular physical activity, the majority of breast cancer survivors do not meet recommended physical activity guidelines. The Motivation–Volition (MoVo) Concept was designed ...to help people to set up and maintain a health‐enhancing lifestyle. Studies have proven the short‐ and long‐term efficacy of the MoVo intervention programmes. The intervention consists of four group sessions (60 min). The sessions contain informational parts, structured training in setting goals, planning exercises, problem‐solving, single person working and group discussion. We apply a sequential control group design in two inpatient rehabilitation facilities to evaluate the effect of a motivational–volitional group intervention compared to standard rehabilitation. Our target groups are inactive women after breast cancer. Primary outcome is the amount of physical activity per week. Secondary outcomes include physical functioning, fatigue and depression. 800 patients diagnosed with breast cancer on medical rehabilitation will be included, 400 participants per clinic and group. Participants will be assessed by questionnaires upon clinic arrival, before discharge and six and twelve months after discharge. The study will provide evidence on the effect of a MoVo group intervention for physical inactive women after breast cancer. Positive results may have an impact on long‐term improvement in exercise behaviour and health status.
Objective
The aim of the current project was the development, implementation and evaluation of the programme, Motivational‐Volitional Intervention‐Movement After Breast Cancer (Mo‐Vo‐BnB), an ...intervention for the sustainable promotion of physical activity of breast cancer survivors.
Methods
In a multi‐stage interdisciplinary development process, the pedagogical‐didactic, psychological and physical evidence‐based programme was developed and implemented for women after breast cancer who were approved for medical rehabilitation and were minimally, physically active (<60 min/week). Train‐the‐trainer seminars were carried out for the implementation. Four sessions were implemented in two German clinics. The training quality, didactic methods and accompanying material were evaluated 6 weeks and 12 months after implementation by patients, trainers and project members (n = 127 evaluations).
Results
The standardised and published MoVo‐BnB programme can provide practical and quality training. Content and methods can be implemented according to the manual. Training quality, didactic methods, and accompanying materials were evaluated positively.
Conclusion
The results suggest that MoVo‐BnB is a useful standardised intervention for promoting the physical activity of breast cancer survivors. The demonstrated process is also suitable for other projects.
Clinical trial registration
German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS): DRKS00011122; Trial registration date: 2016 October 13.
Objectives
Since January 2015, squamous cell carcinoma or multiple actinic keratosis of the skin caused by natural ultraviolet irradiation (UVR) is recognized as occupational disease in Germany. ...Interventions which improve the sun protection behavior of outdoor workers are urgently needed. When developing preventive interventions, the attitudes of target groups need to be taken into consideration. Therefore, outdoor workers’ perceptions and attitudes were investigated.
Methods
Seven guided, problem‐centered qualitative interviews with healthy male outdoor workers were conducted. A qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data.
Results
We found an underestimation of the perceived skin cancer risk in the seven outdoor workers and heterogeneous attitudes toward the usage of sun‐protective measures. Participants stated that the feasibility of technical sun‐protective measures depends on the size of the working area. While using a headgear seemed common, none of the participants stated using additional neck protection. Wearing long‐sleeved shirts and long trousers were considered problematic. The interviews revealed important requirements for sun‐protective clothes, especially in terms of different materials. Although the usage of sunscreen was common, our interviewees seemed to apply it wrongly.
Conclusion
Risk perceptions of outdoor workers and their attitudes toward sun protection measures may influence the factual UV protection behavior in the workplace. Structures to facilitate the implementation of technical and organizational sun‐protective measures seem to be necessary. Educational interventions and clear instructions which are tailored to the individual needs and attitudes of outdoor workers are required to improve the UV protection behavior and to avoid common mistakes.
In school-based addiction prevention, life skills programs (LSPs) have been established since the 1990s. The scientific evidence regarding program effectiveness is in parts unclear. This review links ...life skills not to behavioral outcomes but to three facets of the self: the affective evaluative, the dispositional & dynamic, and the cognitive descriptive facet of the self. This complements the evidence on behavioral outcomes. In a systematic literature search we have identified drug-specific life skills programs in German language and their evaluation studies. We have mapped the instruments used to assess effectiveness of the LSP on three facets of the self, which are site of action of intrapersonal skills. We identified six comparable life skills programs that have been evaluated at least once. In five of these programs, different facets of life skills have been assessed with a total of 38 different measurement instruments. We found that improvements in affective evaluative and dispositional & dynamic facets of the self could be stimulated by LSPs, complementing previous evidence focusing on behavioral outcomes. Conclusion: Numerous instruments have been used that are not directly comparable but can be categorized by facets of the self. As a result, it is found that life skills programs can have an impact on building attitude and the shaping of intrapersonal skills. Interpersonal competencies such as communication skills and empathy have not been measured. Furthermore, a consensus on measurement instruments for life skills should be found.
Purpose
The unexpected and rapid outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic increased the vulnerability of forcibly displaced (migrant) women, who were a social group already at risk of health inequities and ...poorer health outcomes. This study aims to examine the health literacy of forcibly displaced (migrant) women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany using a multidimensional health literacy model as a framework.
Design/methodology/approach
A grounded theory methodology was implemented including interviews with 33 forcibly displaced (migrant) women from July to September 2021. An experienced female researcher interviewed all forcibly displaced (migrant) women, and apart from one telephone interview, all interviews were conducted in person.
Findings
Following data analysis, the category, “Use of health information in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic of forcibly displaced (migrant) women”, was identified as a core category. The findings provide valuable insight into the health literacy of forcibly displaced (migrant) women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Societal and environmental determinants, personal determinants and situational determinants were identified as factors impacting health literacy. Furthermore, health literacy was distinguished as competence to make informed decisions in the health domains “health care” and “disease prevention”.
Originality/value
Although previous research often focuses on the deficits of forcibly displaced (migrants), this study highlights the resources forcibly displaced (migrant) women use to deal with health-related difficulties, especially during a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Importantly, such resources were available even if the study participants did not speak the language of the immigration country.
New approaches are needed to address the challenges of demographic change, staff shortages, and societal change in the care of the elderly. While volunteering has barely been established as a pillar ...of the welfare state in several countries, legislators and nonprofit or community-based organizations in some countries favor the increased integration of volunteers, as they can rely on many dedicated people. When caring for the multimorbid elderly, the transition from hospital to domesticity involves certain risks. Currently, no systematic knowledge exists on whether and how elderly benefit from volunteer support after a hospital stay. Objectives of this systematic review were to (1) identify evaluated approaches with trained volunteers supporting chronically ill, multimorbid elderly one-on-one at the interface between hospital and domesticity; (2) investigate the patient-related effectiveness of the approaches; (3) present the characteristics of the supporting volunteers; and (4) present the underlying teaching and training concepts for the volunteers.
A systematic search of the following online databases was conducted in April 2017: the Cochrane Library, Medline (PubMed), CINAHL, and PsycINFO (Ebscohost). We included (cluster/quasi-) randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials and single-group pre-post design. An institutional search was conducted on eight national institutions from research and practice in Germany. Screening was conducted by one researcher, risk of bias was assessed. Study authors were contacted for study and training details.
We identified a total of twelve studies, eight of which evaluated treatment following hospital stay: psychosocial-coordinative support (n = 2), physical-cognitive activation (n = 4), and assistance with medication intake (n = 2). We saw short-term effects with small and medium effect sizes. Most volunteers were women aged between 45 and 61 years. Their training lasted 12-26 h and took place prior to first patient contact. During the intervention, volunteers could rely on permanent supporting structures.
Few studies exist that have evaluated one-on-one-volunteer support following hospitalization, and the effects are inconsistent. As such, further, well-designed studies are needed. The suitability and transferability of the interventions in country-specific settings should be examined in feasibility studies. Furthermore, an international discussion on the appropriate theoretical backgrounds of volunteer training is needed.
Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
In der COVID-19-Pandemie ging die Versorgung nichtübertragbarer Erkrankungen zeitweise deutlich zurück, auch weil Menschen Angst vor einer Ansteckung hatten. Wir führen ...eine Bestandsaufnahme zur organisationalen Gesundheitskompetenz in der Regelversorgung nichtübertragbarer Erkrankungen in der ersten Welle der COVID-19-Pandemie durch und fragen: Inwiefern wurden Menschen mit gesundheitlichen Beschwerden dabei unterstützt, gesundheitskompetente Entscheidungen für oder gegen die Inanspruchnahme von Versorgungsleistungen zu treffen?
Methodik
Strukturierende Inhaltsanalyse der Internetpräsenzen der Mitglieder der Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlich Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften (AWMF;
n
= 179), der kassen(zahn)ärztlichen Vereinigungen (K(Z)Ven;
n
= 38), ausgewählter Krankenkassen (
n
= 21), ausgewählter Behandlungseinrichtungen (
n
= 25) und überregionaler Anbieter von Gesundheitsinformationen (
n
= 5) zu Informationen und Angeboten zum Thema.
Ergebnisse
Die geprüften Internetpräsenzen informieren weitgehend rund um COVID-19, aber nur selten darüber, wie man sich bei einer (vermuteten) anderen Erkrankung in Bezug auf die Inanspruchnahme von Versorgungsleistungen verhält. 2 Portale von Anbietern von Gesundheitsinformationen, eine Krankenkasse, aber keine der KVen bieten explizite Entscheidungshilfen an. KVen weisen öfter, aber nicht durchgängig auf die generelle Möglichkeit von Videosprechstunden hin.
Diskussion
Für die meisten Patient*innen gab es damit keine gezielten Informationen zu dem Thema. Angesichts der Fortdauer der COVID-19-Pandemie gilt es, vorhandene vertrauenswürdige, qualitativ hochwertige Informations- und Beratungskapazitäten auszubauen und ihre Bekanntheit zu erhöhen, um gesundheitskompetente Entscheidungen auch in der Pandemie zu ermöglichen.
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