Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a welfare disease increasing with such a high rate that it, in popular speech, is being called epidemic. To prevent the spread of this disease, future health care workers are in need of a deeper, science-based education. Purpose: The aim of this study is to research the knowledge about T2DM regarding risk factors, nutrition, activity and foot hygiene among public health students at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand. Method: A cross-sectional study was made using a questionnaire. A convenience sampling of public health students were approached and 121 decided to participate. Results: The majority of the students knew that obesity and an unhealthy diet (containing a high amount of fat, sugar and fast food) was correlated with T2DM and associated with negative outcomes of the disease. The students were uncertain or had less knowledge that smoking is a risk factor (79%). The greater part of the participants (73%) thought that people with T2DM should let their feet air dry. 74% of the respondents underestimated the amount of time that was needed to exercise per week to achieve positive results and 63% of the students were dissatisfied with their education regarding T2DM. Conclusion: Although the students overall had good knowledge about T2DM, they also showed a lot of uncertainty and insufficient knowledge in several questions. This was especially distinguished in the questions regarding activity, foot hygiene and risk factors. / Bakgrund: Typ 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) är en välfärdssjukdom som ökar i så snabb takt att den i folkmun kallas för en epidemi. För att förhindra spridningen av sjukdomen behöver framtida vårdpersonal en djupare, evidensbaserad grundutbildning. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka kunskapen kring T2DM, med avseende på riskfaktorer, nutrition, aktivitet och fothygien bland studerande folkhälsovetare vid Thammasat University i Bangkok, Thailand. Metod: Ett bekvämlighetsurval på studerande folkhälsovetare gjordes, varav 121 av 136 studenter deltog. Enkäter användes i denna studie. Resultat: Majoriteten av eleverna visste att fetma och en ohälsosam kost (innehållande hög fetthalt, socker och snabbmat) var korrelerat med T2DM och associerat med negativa konsekvenser av sjukdomen. Majoriteten av studenterna visste inte att rökning var en riskfaktor (79%). Större delen av deltagarna (73%) tyckte att personer med T2DM skulle låta fötterna lufttorka. 74% av respondenterna underskattade mängden fysisk aktivitet som behövdes varje vecka för att uppnå positiva resultat och 63% av eleverna var missnöjda med sin utbildning avseende T2DM. Slutsats: Även om eleverna i allmänhet hade goda kunskaper om T2DM visade de också en hel del osäkerhet och otillräcklig kunskap i flera frågor. Detta särskilt i frågorna gällande aktivitet, fothygien och riskfaktorer.

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the mechanism of association between social determinants of health (SDH), particularly limited health literacy, and disparate outcomes related to cardiovascular disease in vulnerable populations. Specific aims were to 1) compare quality of life (QOL), anxiety, and depressive symptoms between genders in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) recipients; 2) examine the association between multi-morbidity burden and QOL; 3) determine whether health literacy levels independently predict CVD risk in the male prison population; 4) examine the relationship between health literacy and decisiveness regarding end of life (EOL) choices, and 5) examine SDH as predictors of perceived poor health status in ICD recipients. Specific aim one was addressed by analysis of data collected from individuals in the Swedish ICD and Pacemaker Registry. Multiple linear regression was used to determine predictors of anxiety, depression, and quality of life in men and women. A higher prevalence of anxiety symptoms in women was noted with no differences in depressive symptoms noted between the genders. The majority of the variance in the predictive models for QOL was explained by the addition of the psychosocial variables for both genders. Specific aim two was addressed by analysis of data collected from individuals in the Swedish ICD and Pacemaker Registry. Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of QOL. Greater multi-morbidity burden was associated with lower QOL in ICD recipients. Specific aim three was addressed by analysis of data collected from male inmates enrolled in a bio-behavioral educational and counselling intervention program to reduce CVD risk. Nonlinear regression was used to determine whether health literacy was an independent predictor of CVD risk while controlling for social and clinical variables. Inmates with adequate levels of health literacy had lower ten year CVD risk profiles than those inmates with inadequate health literacy. Specific aim four was addressed by analysis of data collected from ICD recipients. Multinomial regression was used to determine predictors of decisiveness regarding EOL choices. Within the context of terminal illness, health literacy and race were found to be predictors of decisiveness regrading generator replacement while gender was found to be a predictor of decisiveness regarding the withdrawal of defibrillation therapy. Specific aim five was addressed by analysis of data collected from ICD recipients. Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of perceived poor health status. Residential status in the Central Appalachian region of Kentucky, not working outside the home, higher levels of health literacy, and comorbid depression were predictors of perceived poor/very poor health status.

Limited health literacy is a barrier to understanding health information. Simplifying text can reduce this barrier and possibly other known disparities in health. Unfortunately, few tools exist to simplify text with demonstrated impact on comprehension. By leveraging modern data sources integrated with natural language processing algorithms, we are developing the first semi-automated text simplification tool. We present two main contributions. First, we introduce our evidence-based development strategy for designing effective text simplification software and summarize initial, promising results. Second, we present a new study examining existing readability formulas, which are the most commonly used tools for text simplification in healthcare. We compare syllable count, the proxy for word difficulty used by most readability formulas, with our new metric ‘term familiarity’ and find that syllable count measures how difficult words ‘appear’ to be, but not their actual difficulty. In contrast, term familiarity can be used to measure actual difficulty.

Understanding the short-and long-term impacts of a biomonitoring and exposure project and reporting personal results back to study participants is critical for guiding future efforts, especially in the context of environmental justice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate learning outcomes from environmental communication efforts and whether environmental health literacy goals were met in an environmental justice community. We conducted 14 interviews with parents who had participated in the University of Arizona's Metals Exposure Study in Homes and analyzed their responses using NVivo, a qualitative data management and analysis program. Key findings were that participants used the data to cope with their challenging circumstances, the majority of participants described changing their families' household behaviors, and participants reported specific interventions to reduce family exposures. The strength of this study is that it provides insight into what people learn and gain from such results communication efforts, what participants want to know, and what type of additional information participants need to advance their environmental health literacy. This information can help improve future report back efforts and advance environmental health and justice.

The thesis follows the theoretical foundation, options and practical application of Education for Health with regards to the growing significance in Person and Health in school educational programmes. The theoretical part focuses on the history and development in the filed of the Education for Health since the 16th century up until the reformation of the czech educational system after 1989. This part also concentrates on the options of fulfilling and understanding the curriculum goals in the current environment in primary schools. The practical part maps the approach of the Education for Health in a specific primary school environment, which focuses on different opinions of the educator, pupils and parents, with emphasis on the qualitative research. Based on the evaluation of the theoretical basis of the curriculum on the one hand and the practical realization of this domain in the selected school on the other hand, the author suggests possible adjustments in the realization of Education for Health in the specific school. KEYWORDS Health, secondary school, health literacy, value, educator, student, parent

The thesis looks into the health literacy of pupils at Primary school. The main aim of this work is to compare the pupils's health literacy with the computer literacy at chosen Primary school. To find out the level of knowledge, awareness, attitudes and perceptions of pupils in connection with computer and health literacy. Determine the causes of less interest in physical activities and the link between physical activity and health of pupils. The theoretical part deals with the definition of the basic concepts such as health literacy, computer literacy, healthy living, physical activity, etc… with the help of the specialized literature. This part describes the relationship between the pupil's physical activity, healthy lifestyle and health literacy. The practical part compares the level of student's knowledge in the field of computer and health literacy. It finds out the pupil's knowledge which are linked to beneficial effect of physical activities on human health, too. In this part questionnaires which are intended for children from the selected primary school and deal with primarily the level of knowledge of medical and computer literacy will be elaborated. Questions are also pointed at physical activities of students in extracurricular activities, their frequency and the motivation for them. In...

Master of Science / Department of Journalism and Mass Communications / Nancy Muturi / Health disparities are prevalent among ethnic minorities, including immigrants in the United States. These disparities come in the form of low health insurance, low social economic status, ethnic discrimination, language and cultural barriers. As ethnic minorities, international students also suffer from numerous health problems that are associated with their lower social, economic and immigration status when they come to the United States. Health communication is an effective tool for increasing health literacy and for reducing health disparities. Applying the uses and gratification theory and the staged model of trust, the study was conducted among 120 American students and 135 international students to examine the extent to which access to health information, the type of information accessed, how they use it, and how they determine what trustworthy information is differed between the two groups. Key findings indicate that nutrition is the most common health topic accessed online by college students regardless of place of origin. Though both groups access online health information with the same motivation of information, they use online health information in different situations. Source credibility is the most important factor for college students in determining trustworthy health websites, and government websites and other health organization websites were found to be more trustworthy. The study also provides both theoretical and practical implications, which include consideration of ethnic backgrounds in disseminating health information through online channels and understanding the needs and motivation for people’s access to health information and how they use it to be able to meet those needs. In designing health communication campaigns that target college students, the study proposes that the differences between native-born and international students need to be taken into consideration.

This project is part of the development phase of a health company called HälsoTanken, that is about to expand as a company. The purpose of the project is to develop HälsoTanken's website to present the company on the web so that the recipient feels confident. In the healthcare industry it is important for the customers to feel trust, therefore we will analyze how web design can be used to achieve trust in the health industry in this study. The background of the study consists of the concepts, risk society and health literacy to understand how people experience risks and expertise in society, as well as underlying knowledge in health. The main areas covered are web design, positive impression on the web and a theory about how the recipient makes their credibility assessment of web pages. The study is conducted by qualitative semi-structured interviews of HälsoTankens primary target group, which are men and women aged 50 to 60 years. The result of the study shows that a lot of text and elements in a web design does not have a positive effect when it comes to creating trust in web pages. However, trust is created through clear structure and professional images on premises. The result was used as the basis for the creation of HälsoTankens new web page, which is presented in the form of a prototype.

Thesis advisor: Ramsay Liem / Underutilization of mental health services among Asian Americans is a pressing concern. It is possible that knowledge and beliefs about mental illness (a.k.a. “mental health literacy”) serve as barriers to seeking appropriate help, and that Asian cultural values plays a role in determining such attitudes. This study investigated the relationships among mental health literacy, attitudes towards mental health services, and adherence to Asian cultural values. A sample of 17 Caucasian and 22 Asian American college students completed a questionnaire including the Asian Values Scale, the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale – Shortened Version, and four vignettes portraying depression, schizophrenia, alcohol dependency, and anorexia. Results indicated that Caucasians were slightly more likely to correctly recognize and identify mental illnesses than were Asian Americans. Causal attributions varied greatly across different mental disorders, and Asian Americans showed less positive attitudes towards seeking professional psychological help, and preferred to solve problems on their own or seek help from family or friends. The greatest barriers to treatment for Asian Americans were a fear of showing personal weakness and concern about stigma. Adherence to Asian cultural values was inversely associated with willingness to seek professional help, and with willingness to take medication for psychological problems. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2005. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Psychology. / Discipline: College Honors Program.

Psykisk ohälsa är ett växande folkhälsoproblem som orsakar nedsatt välbefinnande och försämrad livskvalité. Vanliga tillstånd av psykisk ohälsa är depressioner och ångestsyndrom. Unga vuxna är en utsatt grupp där den psykiska ohälsan fortsätter att breda ut sig hos. Syftet med studien var att undersöka vad unga vuxna vet om orsakerna till psykisk ohälsa och vad det finns för stöd att få. En kvalitativ metod användes för att besvara studiens frågeställningar. Datainsamlingen skedde med semistrukturerade intervjuer och ett målinriktat urval användes för att rekrytera intervjupersoner som utgjordes av sex unga vuxna mellan 20–29 år som var antingen studerande eller yrkesverksamma. Det insamlade materialet analyserades med en manifest innehållsanalys. Resultatet visade att psykisk ohälsa kännetecknas av förlorad meningsfullhet, negativa tankar och kan yttra sig i försämrad koncentrationsförmåga som medför prestationssvårigheter. Det befintliga stödet vid psykisk ohälsa uppfattades otillräckligt med för långa väntetider och behov av andra insatser än medicinering. Orsaker till psykisk ohälsa uppfattas vara om individen upplevt ett trauma eller ställer för höga krav på sig själv. I resultatet framkom att individer jämför sig via sociala medier och i strävan efter kroppsideal och ett perfekt liv. Studien tyder på att sociala medier har bidragit till ökningen av psykisk ohälsa.