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. 2013 Dec;30(4):278-93.
doi: 10.1111/hir.12037. Epub 2013 Jul 31.

Development of a complex intervention to improve health literacy skills

Astrid Austvoll-Dahlgren  1 , Stein Danielsen, Elin Opheim, Arild Bjørndal, Liv Merete Reinar, Signe Flottorp, Andrew David Oxman, Sølvi Helseth
Affiliations

Development of a complex intervention to improve health literacy skills

Astrid Austvoll-Dahlgren et al. Health Info Libr J. 2013 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Providing insight into the developmental processes involved in building interventions is an important way to ensure methodological transparency and inform future research efforts. The objective of this study was to describe the development of a web portal designed to improve health literacy skills among the public.

Methods: The web portal was tailored to address three key barriers to obtaining information, using the conceptual frameworks of shared decision-making and evidence-based practice and based on explicit criteria for selecting the content and form of the intervention.

Results: The web portal targeted the general public and took the form of structured sets of tools. Content included: an introduction to research methods, help on how to find evidence-based health information efficiently based on the steps of evidence-based practice, an introduction to critical appraisal, information about patient participation rights in decision-making, and a decision aid for consultations.

Conclusions: The web portal was designed in a systematic and transparent way and address key barriers to obtaining and acting upon reliable health information. The web portal provides open access to the tools and can be used independently by health care users, or during consultations with health professionals.

Keywords: consumer health information; decision support; evidence-based practice; health; health education; informatics; information seeking behaviour.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Model describing phases of complex interventions by van Boekhoven et al.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A multi-dimensional model of health literacy by Zarcadoolas et al.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Front page of the web portal providing access to the three sets of tools
Figure 4
Figure 4
Example of structure and presentation of content
Figure 5
Figure 5
Overview of the web portals components and corresponding hypothesised health literacy domains
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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