Understand Archives - Sydney Health Literacy Lab

Exploring patient involvement in healthcare decision making across different education and functional health literacy groups – Sian Smith et al

Education and health literacy potentially limit a person's ability to be involved in decisions about their health. Few studies, however, have explored understandings and experiences of involvement in decision making among patients varying in education and health literacy. This paper reports on a qualitative interview [...]

The challenge of shared decision making among patients with lower literacy: a framework for research and development – Kirsten McCaffery et al

There have been major advances in techniques to increase patient involvement in health decisions with the benefits of greater involvement and shared decision making now widely recognized. However, there has been little attention in the development of tools and strategies to support patient participation among adults with lower literacy, a group with poor [...]

The differential effects of presenting uncertainty around benefits and harms on treatment decision making – Jovana Sladakovic et al

The study aimed to determine the effects of presenting uncertainty of quantitative risk information about medication harms and benefits on intention to take medication and psychosocial outcomes.

Can adults with low literacy understand shared decision making questions? A qualitative investigation – Danielle Muscat et al

Participation in shared decision-making (SDM) may be difficult for adults with lower literacy. Tools to support consumers to engage in SDM are rarely designed for or evaluated with adults with lower literacy and/or poor English language.

Health Literacy Demand of Printed Lifestyle Patient Information Materials Aimed at People With Chronic Kidney Disease: Are Materials Easy to Understand and Act On and Do They Use Meaningful Visual Aids? – Suzanne Morony et al

People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) need usable information on how to live well and slow disease progression. This information is complex, difficult to communicate, and changes during the course of the disease. We examined lifestyle-related printed CKD patient education materials focusing on actionability and [...]

General Practitioners’ Decision Making about Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Older Adults: A Qualitative Study – Jesse Jansen et al

Primary cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention in older people is challenging as they are a diverse group with varying needs, frequent presence of comorbidities, and are more susceptible to treatment harms. Moreover the potential benefits and harms of preventive medication for older people are uncertain. We [...]

Communication Between Health Workers and Ethnic Minorities in Vietnam – Shannon McKinn et al

Vietnam has made notable progress in reducing maternal mortality rates during the past 2 decades, but this overall improvement conceals regional and ethnic inequalities. Ethnic minorities in Vietnam experience high rates of poverty and mortality, and they face communication and cultural barriers when accessing health [...]

Decision-Making Preferences and Deprescribing: Perspectives of Older Adults and Companions About Their Medicines – Kristie Weir et al

Polypharmacy in the older population is increasing-and can be harmful. It can be safe to reduce or carefully cease medicines (deprescribing) but a collaborative approach between patient and doctor is required. This study explores decision-making about polypharmacy with older adults and their companions.

A Linguistic Analysis of Health Literacy Demands of Chronic Kidney Disease Patient Education Materials – Suzanne Morony et al

Instruments to assess the quality and comprehensibility of printed patient education materials may lack proper consideration of how readers derive meaning from text. The Evaluative Linguistic Framework (ELF) considers how factors that influence readers' expectations about health care texts also affect their ability to understand [...]

Insufficient evidence on health literacy amongst Indigenous people with cancer: a systematic literature review – Belinda Thewes et al

Indigenous people experience poorer cancer survival outcomes compared with non-Indigenous people. Currently, there is growing awareness of poor health literacy as a determinant of cancer outcomes. However, little attention has been given to researching cancer-related health literacy amongst Indigenous people.