Advancing Health Literacy
A Framework for Understanding and Action
Published on 11. October 2006
396 pages
978-0-7879-8563-9 (ISBN)
Description
Advancing Health Literacy addresses the crisis in health literacy in the United States and around the world. This book thoroughly examines the critical role of literacy in public health and outlines a practical, effective model that bridges the gap between health education, health promotion, and health communication. Step by step, the authors outline the theory and practice of health literacy from a public health perspective. This comprehensive resource includes the history of health literacy, theoretical foundations of health and language literacy, the role of the media, a series of case studies on important topics including prenatal care, anthrax, HIV/AIDS, genomics, and diabetes. The book concludes with a series of practical guidelines for the development and assessment of health communications materials. Also included are essential techniques needed to help people make informed decisions, advocate for themselves and their community, mitigate risk, and live healthier lives.
Reviews / Votes
"...an important book because it teaches us lessons from thehistory of health communications and moves us forward."(PsycCritiques, 08/08/2007) "This is one of the most understandable, useful, and practicaltexts available to assist with developing, implementing, andevaluating community health programs." (Choice, February2007) "We recommend that public health directors make this bookrequired reading for everyone in their communications department."(New England Journal of Medicine, February 15, 2007)More details
Other editions
Additional editions
Christina Zarcadoolas | Andrew Pleasant | David S. Greer
Advancing Health Literacy
A Framework for Understanding and Action
Book
07/2006
1st Edition
Jossey-Bass
€92.98
Shipment within 10-20 days
Persons
Christina Zarcadoolas, Ph.D., is associate clinicalprofessor in the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine,Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in New York City. She is asociolinguist who has spent thirty years studying language andliteracy of vulnerable populations.
Andrew F. Pleasant, Ph.D., is an assistant professor inthe Department of Human Ecology and the Extension Department ofFamily and Community Health Sciences at Rutgers, the StateUniversity of New Jersey in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Hepreviously served as a temporary advisor to the World HealthOrganization in Geneva, Switzerland, and actively conducts researchboth in the United States and internationally.
David S. Greer, M.D., is dean of medicine emeritus, andprofessor of community health emeritus at the Division of Biologyand Medicine, School of Medicine, Brown University. Greer has beena family doctor, researcher, medical school leader, communityleader, and mentor to countless health professionals for manydecades. He was a founding director of International Physicians forthe Prevention of Nuclear War, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in1985.
Content
List of Tables, Figures, and Exhibits.
Preface.
The Authors.
1. Health Literacy: Why Is It a Public Health Issue?
Definitions of Key Terms.
Medical Information.
The Relationship Between Health and Literacy.
Characteristics of People as Language Users.
Wrapping Up.
Exercises.
2. Advancing Health Literacy: Getting Here from There.
Historical Considerations.
A Brief History: How Did We Get to Health Literacy?
Early Public Health Promotion and Education.
Social Movements and Advocacy in the 1960s and 1970s.
Informed Consumer Decision Making and Community Collaboration in the 1980s and 1990s.
The 21st Century.
Wrapping Up.
Exercises.
3. Defining Health Literacy.
Literacy: Defining Terms.
Reality Bytes.
The Evolving Field of Health Literacy.
A Multidimensional Model of Health Literacy.
Wrapping Up.
Exercises.
4. Literacy at Work.
How Language Works.
Reading.
Spoken Language.
Implications for Spoken and Written Health Messages.
Wrapping Up.
Exercises.
5. The Traditional Mass Media.
Introduction to Mass Media.
Media Content: Challenges and Opportunities to Advance Health Literacy.
Wrapping Up.
Exercises.
6. Health Literacy and the Internet.
Internet Use in Health Care.
Potential Disadvantages and Barriers to the Internet for Conveying Health-Related Information.
Wrapping Up.
Exercises.
7. Baby Basics: A Prenatal Program Focusing on Developing Health Literacy.
Healthy Beginnings: Infant and Maternal Health.
The Baby Basics Book and Program.
The Baby Basics Program Model.
Wrapping Up.
Exercises.
8. Anthrax: A Missed Opportunity to Advance Health Literacy.
The American Public Reacts.
The U.S. Postal Service Postcard: A Mixed Success.
Seeking Anthrax Answers on the Internet.
Scientific Uncertainty: A Consistent Challenge.
Wrapping Up.
Exercises.
9. Genomics and Health Literacy.
Why Genomics?
Understanding and Misunderstanding Genomics: A Review.
Wrapping Up.
Exercises.
10. Highlighting the Role of Civic Literacy: The Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program.
Smoking and Health: The Threat.
Smoking and Health Literacy.
Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program.
Wrapping Up.
Exercises.
11. Highlighting the Role of Cultural Literacy, Part 1: The Changing Face of HIV/AIDS.
HIV/AIDS in the United States.
The Public Dialogue.
The Conflict in Communicating About HIV/AIDS.
Community Planning: The San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
Wrapping Up.
Exercises.
12. Highlighting the Role of Cultural Literacy, Part 2: Diabetes and Native Americans.
How to Be Culturally Relevant.
Diabetes and Native Americans: An Epidemic of Culture.
The Role of Culture in Diabetes Prevention and Care.
The Sioux San Hospital Diabetes Program.
Listening to the Community.
Wrapping Up.
Exercises.
13. Program Evaluation: World Education's Breast and Cervical Cancer Project.
Adult Basic Education and Health Literacy.
Targeting Breast and Cervical Cancer.
What Is Evaluation?
HEAL:BCC Implementation and Evaluation.
Lessons Learned from the Evaluation.
Wrapping Up.
Exercises.
14. Guidelines for Advancing Health Literacy.
Guideline 1: General.
Guideline 2: Vocabulary.
Guideline 3: Sentences.
Guideline 4: Text Structure.
Guideline 5: Giving Instructions.
Guideline 6: Field Testing.
Guideline 7: Spoken Language.
Guideline 8: Language Translation.
Guideline 9: Web Design.
Guideline 10: Graphics and Layout of Print Materials.
Guideline 11: Media.
References.
Name Index.
Subject Index.
