Beauty is but skin deep.......

2012-08-27T20:22:00.002-07:00

Just Think

2012-08-27T06:20:00.000-07:00

About reserch

2012-08-18T08:38:00.002-07:00

As I come across, research is systemic inquiry that uses orderly scientific method to answer questions or solve problems. research can be used to validate and refine existing knowledge and to generate new knowledge.

Research topic should have........

unanswered question
unresolved question
concern
query

You can identify a research problem or area of interest from everyday life experience. practical issues past research or theory.

criteria for selecting a research project

relevance
avoidance of duplications
feasibility
political acceptability
applicability
urgency of data needed
ethical acceptability
..................................

How to identify a research problem

search for a problem in your everyday life
read more about your field of studies
take notes or keep a research journal
seek professional advice
choose the topic that will interest and motivate you and others will find worthy of attention
..............................................

Once you have research problem , the following conditions need to be evaluated to see whether a problem situation requires research.....

There should be a perceived difference or discrepancy between what exist and the ideal or planned situation
The reasons for this differences should be unclear
There should be more than one possible answer to the question or solution to the problem.

Health information litaracy

2012-08-17T05:58:00.000-07:00

Health information literacy

Health literacy is the degree to which individual have the capacity to obtain, process & understand basic health information &services needed to make appropriate health decisions.

Health literacy is dependent on both individual and systemic factors. like

1. communication skills of lay people and professionals.

2. Knowledge of lay people &professionals of health topics.

3. cultures.

4. Demand of the health care and public health care systems.

5. Demand of the situation.

Health literacy is important, because

it affect people’s ability to

* navigate the health care system, including locating providers & services & filling out forms

*share personal & health information with providers

*engage in self care & chronic disease management

*adapt health promoting behaviors, such as exercising &eating a health diet

*act on health related, These intermediate outcomes impact,

*health outcomes *healthcare cost *quality of care

Persons with limited health literacy skills, have

* Higher utilization of treatment services (hospitalization, emergency services )

*Lower utilization of preventive services

Higher utilization of treatment services result in higher healthcare cost

Measuring health literacy

Tasks used to measure healthcare literacy

1.clinical- filling out a patient from

2.prevention- following guidelines for age appropriate preventive health services

3.navigation of the healthcare system –understanding what a health insurance plan will pay for

4.proficient – can perform complex & challenging literacy activities

5.intermediate – can perform moderate challenging literacy activities

6.basic – can perform simple everyday literacy activities

7.below basic – can perform no more than the most simple & concrete literacy activities

Health literacy measures based on functional literacy do not capture the full range of skills needed for health literacy

Current assessment tools(for population & individuals )cannot differentiate among,

-reading ability

-lack of health related background knowledge

-lack of familiarity with language & materials

-cultural differences in approach to health

The problem of limited health literacy is greater among,

1.Older age

2.Those who are poor.

3.People with limited education.

4.Minority population.

5.Person with limited English proficiency.

Many of the same populations at risk for limited health literacy also suffer from disparities in health status, illness(including heart diseases, DM, obesity, HIV, oral diseases, cancer, death and low birth weight)and death.

Person with limited health literacy skills are more likely to skip preventive measures such as Mammograms and Pap smears.

Persons with limited health literacy skills, are more likely to have chronic conditions and less likely to manage them effectively. They have less knowledge of their illnesses(DM, Asthma) and its management

experience more preventable hospital visits and admissions.

The sources of health literacy

Internet , Magazines or Books, News papers, Family or Friends, Radio or TV ,Health care provider

Well Come to my blog

2012-08-17T01:15:00.001-07:00

We R Still Learning

Beauty is but skin deep.......

Just Think

About reserch

Health information litaracy

Well Come to my blog