NURS02 Growing health literacy in rural and regional health care sectors.

Overview

High levels of health literacy where a person is able to proactively self-manage their health care needs, is well recognised as a valuable commodity for both the person seeking health care and the health care system in general (Pailaha, 2023). The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has identified 2 dimensions of health literacy which will influence a person’s ability to self-manage their health care needs (Health Literacy. AIHW, 2022).  These dimensions include the individual’s capabilities but reinforce the environmental factors that may influence a person's level of health literacy. Factors such as limited health care resources and websites that are difficult to access and/or to navigate (Pailaha, 2023)

An important role of the nurse is to support consumers in the growth and development of their levels of health literacy across the lifespan. Academics have proposed that health literacy should be a ‘core nursing skill’ (Wittenberg, 2018), with Alvarenge et al (2019) suggesting the need for a health literacy ‘nursing diagnostic’ tool, in which to assess the person's health literacy level and base the ongoing support. There are however, differences of opinion in relation to how to meet and raise health literacy levels for the consumer. Kilinc et al (2024) states that a whole of population approach is necessary, whereas Parnell (2015) promotes a peson-centred approach. Stoneley et al’s (2023) research examining the health literacy levels of asthmatics living in rural settings, detected that a reactive (rather than proactive) approach drawn from previous asthma related experiences were the primary sources to increasing the participants health literacy levels. While it is acknowledged in the literature, that environmental factors are problematic in rural sectors, there appears to be little written about how to address this aspect of health literacy.

This project therefore aims to explore the literature to identify what assessment strategies have been put in place to recognise the unique challenges (individual/population and environmental) for people living in rural settings and what evidence-based methods have been successful in which to grow a person’s health literacy levels.

References.

Alvarenga, C., La Banca, R., Leite, A., Alvarenga, W., Nascimento, L., & Carvalho, E. (2019). P12 Concept analysis of health literacy: a nursing diagnosis proposal. European journal of public health, 29(Supplement_2). https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckz095.009

Health Literacy (2022).  AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare).  Australian Government. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/health-literacy

Kılınç, A., Çam, C., Aydoğan Gedik, S., Oktar, D., Taşcıoğlu, U., Öznur Muz, F. N., Önsüz, M. F., & Metintaş, S. (2024). Public health literacy in primary users in western Turkey. Global health promotion, 31(1), 45-54. https://doi.org/10.1177/17579759231191507

Pailaha, A. D. (2023). Public health nursing: Challenges and innovations for health literacy in rural area. Public health Nursing, 40(5), 769-772. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.13223

Parnell, T. A. (2015). Health literacy in nursing : providing person-centered care. Springer Publishing Company.

Stoneley, A., Anderson, J., & Sutton, C. (2023). The Influence of Health Literacy and Self-Management on Emergency Healthcare Access for Rural Asthmatics: A Patient's Perspective. Curēus (Palo Alto, CA), 15(12), e50350-e50350. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.50350

Wittenberg, E., Ferrell, B., Kanter, E., & Buller, H. (2018). Health literacy: Exploring nursing challenges to providing support and understanding. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 22(1), E53-E61. https://doi.org/10.1188/18.CJON.53-61

Research engagement

The main focus will be a review of the literature with an opportunity to critique the literature to determine a best practice proposal.

Research activities

The student will be researching a specific topic, collate data to will lead to a published paper.  They will be working with Dr Helen Donovan as the supervisor with

Outcomes

This work will enable a 'best practice'  document to be produced which will inform others of how to improve health literacy for people living in rural sectors.

Skills and experience

A detailed approach to the literature, with searches being accurate and as complete as possible.

Start date

1 November, 2024

End date

1 February, 2025

Location

QUT Kelvin Grove Campus and School of Nursing

Additional information

Weekly meetings with tthe supervisor and direct support from the library liaison officer.

Keywords

• health literacy
• rural health care sector
• individual
• environmental

Contact

Dr Helen Donovan h.donovan@qut.edu.au  31393719