Maeve Murray, Stephen Behan, Sarah Meegan, Wesley O'Brien, Craig Smith, Hannah Goss
{"title":"Health literacy in Ireland: insights from rural and urban community perspectives.","authors":"Maeve Murray, Stephen Behan, Sarah Meegan, Wesley O'Brien, Craig Smith, Hannah Goss","doi":"10.1093/heapro/daaf072","DOIUrl":"10.1093/heapro/daaf072","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Low levels of health literacy have been consistently found in Ireland. Little is known about the contextual development of health literacy in Irish community settings, especially those identified as most deprived where improved health literacy can support better health outcomes. Individual interviews and focus groups were conducted with 105 participants across one rural and one urban community in Ireland. Recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Accessing and understanding health information, health literacy changing over time, perceiving health literacy as an individual responsibility, and interpersonal and community influence on health literacy were common themes for participants across both settings. The themes of health access were discussed in both community settings but presented different challenges within the rural and urban communities of focus. Consequentially, rural-urban health literacy challenges should be contextualized. Equitable access to adequate healthcare is an emerging challenge observed in Irish rural communities and a systems approach should be employed to support overall development.</p>","PeriodicalId":54256,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion International","volume":"40 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12154202/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144276665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The state of organizational health literacy: addressing gaps and future directions.","authors":"Francisco Javier Ferreira-Alfaya","doi":"10.1093/heapro/daaf075","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaf075","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Advancing health literacy requires coordinated efforts across sectors, yet intersectoral collaboration remains a challenge. This perspective article critically examines the current state of organizational health literacy, identifying four key intervention levels: integrating health literacy into formal education, implementing health literacy assessments, developing targeted interventions for vulnerable populations, and improving accessibility to health resources. However, existing frameworks fail to address the interoperability between sectors, particularly the persistent disconnect between education and healthcare, which hampers public health progress. Organizational health literacy is primarily addressed through national strategic plans tailored to contextual needs, yet academic research in this area remains scarce and rarely adopts a multisectoral approach. Furthermore, a key challenge lies in the inadequate evaluation of organizational health literacy initiatives. Without measurable outcomes and systematic assessment, it is difficult to determine their real-world impact or to adapt them to diverse contexts. Strengthening the role of healthcare professionals across sectors, combined with structural reforms to foster intersectoral collaboration, is crucial for enhancing health literacy outcomes. Despite growing recognition of organizational health literacy's importance, its integration into policy and practice remains fragmented. The lack of structured pathways linking education and healthcare limits meaningful cooperation and hinders the development of comprehensive, integrated interventions. Addressing these gaps requires a systemic approach that bridges sectors and ensures that health literacy becomes a fundamental component of both public health and education systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":54256,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion International","volume":"40 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144303578","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessing the impact of parents' digital and health literacy on children's participation in sport.","authors":"Ayşe Gül Güven, Yasemin Nuran Dönmez, Fatma İncedere, Medine Ayşin Taşar","doi":"10.1093/heapro/daaf038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaf038","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Higher levels of parental health and digital literacy are associated with better health knowledge and therefore better health outcomes for their children. There is currently no research evaluating the impact of parental digital and health literacy on children's participation in sport. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the effect of parental digital and health literacy on the sport participation of their children and included parents of children aged 6-18 years, categorized into a sport-participating group (n = 201) and a non-participating group (n = 116). Parents completed a questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, internet and mobile phone usage for health-related purposes, and their children's level of sport participation. Additionally, they were administered the Digital Literacy Scale and the Health Literacy Scale. The total, technical, and social dimension scores of the Digital Literacy Scale were significantly higher in parents of children participating in sport (P < .05). Similarly, the total score on the Health Literacy Scale, as well as the subscale scores for accessing/obtaining, understanding, and processing/appraising health-related information were significantly higher in the sport-participating group (P < .05). Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed between the total scores of the Digital Literacy Scale and the Health Literacy Scale (P = .001, r = 0.412). These findings indicate that parents of children engaged in sport have significantly higher digital and health literacy levels. Enhancing parental digital and health literacy may play a crucial role in promoting children's participation in sport. Interventions aimed at improving parental digital and health literacy could positively impact children's sport-related health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":54256,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion International","volume":"40 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12015608/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144033550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Political determinants of digital health: beyond the rainbow.","authors":"Sara L M Davis","doi":"10.1093/heapro/daaf014","DOIUrl":"10.1093/heapro/daaf014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In 2021, the World Health Organization issued its first global strategy on digital technologies and health, calling on member states to develop their own national digital health strategies. However, the normative tools that guide the development of these strategies do not prompt member states to consider how broader political factors, such as law and policy, governance, and civic engagement, could shape health outcomes in the digital age. The digital gender divide, algorithmic biases linked to race, transnational private sector actors, and more must be thoroughly addressed in future digital health strategies. Experiences from the global HIV response have demonstrated that it is possible to do this, by mobilizing diverse government and non-governmental actors to systematically assess and act to strengthen the legal and political environment for health. This essay draws on the HIV response to critically engage with recent literature on the digital determinants of health, proposing an approach to analyzing broader political determinants of health, including commercial determinants of health, and other laws, policies, governance, and civic engagement relevant to digital health strategies. By rendering visible the role of politics, governance, and civic engagement in digital health, strategies can be tools to mobilize broad collaborations and advocacy that creates an enabling environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":54256,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion International","volume":"40 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966192/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143774940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Correction to: Co-production of a youth advocacy video on the harms of e-cigarette advertising in Scotland.","authors":"","doi":"10.1093/heapro/daaf050","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaf050","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54256,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion International","volume":"40 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11986203/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144062443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Caroline E Brett, Hannah Madden, Darci Tillbrook, Vivian D Hope
{"title":"A scoping review of sense of coherence and salutogenesis among LGBTQ+ populations.","authors":"Caroline E Brett, Hannah Madden, Darci Tillbrook, Vivian D Hope","doi":"10.1093/heapro/daaf049","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaf049","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Salutogenesis and sense of coherence can buffer the effects of external threats such as stigma, discrimination, and emergencies. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ+) communities globally face discrimination, prejudice, and victimization. Understanding salutogenesis and sense of coherence among LGBTQ+ people could improve policy and health promotion responses and reduce the impact of these stressors on LGBTQ+ people's health. This scoping review addressed the following question: To what extent has salutogenesis, either qualitatively or through measurement of sense of coherence, been explored among LGBTQ+ populations globally? Systematic searches of five databases identified 448 unique sources: 413 were excluded through title and abstract screening, and 18 by full-text screening. Of the 17 included studies, 14 were quantitative, two qualitative, and one mixed methods. Studies recruited participants from 11 high-income countries. Two-thirds (11) recruited participants only from within the LGBTQ+ community and six had more broadly based samples. The studies sampled a diverse range of subpopulations and subgroups from a variety of contexts limiting generalizability. The quantitative measure of sense of coherence most often used was the SoC-13 (n = 7), however, heterogeneity in the results reporting prevented quantitative synthesis. The limited evidence suggests that sense of coherence may be lower in LGBTQ+ populations than in comparison groups of cisgender heterosexuals, at least in some contexts, and is related to measures of wellbeing and discrimination. Further research is needed to understand how sense of coherence and its dimensions influence, and is influenced by, LGBTQ + people's life experiences and resources and their responses to external stressors.</p>","PeriodicalId":54256,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion International","volume":"40 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12015610/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144060548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Digital determinants of sexual and reproductive health-workforce perspectives on digital and data literacies.","authors":"Kath Albury, Samantha Mannix","doi":"10.1093/heapro/daaf013","DOIUrl":"10.1093/heapro/daaf013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article explores the impact of digital transformation on sexual and reproductive health promotion from an interdisciplinary perspective, focusing on the implications of rapidly evolving policy landscapes for the Australian health promotion workforce. We draw on 29 key informant interviews and workshops with 18 current sexual and reproductive health professionals (aged 18-29). Both groups were invited to reflect on how digital and data literacies are currently understood and applied within the Australian sexual and reproductive health promotion sector. Interviewees shared concerns related to digital and data literacy, equity, and the challenges of integrating digital technologies into health practice. Findings highlight the need for strategic approaches that shift focus away from individual literacies towards broader organisational capabilities. These capabilities include: an understanding of digital policy and platform governance (e.g. in relation to social media content moderation); an understanding of how health consumers and service users currently utilise digital systems to support sexual health and wellbeing; and an understanding of the ways digital equity and data justice can be undermined or advanced in organisational settings. We conclude with recommendations for enhancing workforce digital and data capabilities and integrating DDoH into health promotion policy and practice to improve health equity. Significantly, we conclude that dedicated resources and training are needed to address the complexities of DDoH in the sexual and reproductive health context.</p>","PeriodicalId":54256,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion International","volume":"40 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11915501/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143659631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marcus Gurtner, Ryan Gage, Moira Smith, James Stanley, Louise Signal
{"title":"Child's-eye views of smartphone-based gaming content: objective insights from Aotearoa New Zealand.","authors":"Marcus Gurtner, Ryan Gage, Moira Smith, James Stanley, Louise Signal","doi":"10.1093/heapro/daae195","DOIUrl":"10.1093/heapro/daae195","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Children's engagement with smartphone-based (online) gaming content is rapidly increasing. There appears to be no existing objective evidence of children's exposure to this content captured in real time. Evidence on preteens' smartphone-based gaming is especially scarce. This study aimed to objectively explore the nature and extent of preteens' exposure to smartphone-based gaming content. Sixty-six children aged 11-13 years from 16 schools in the Wellington region of New Zealand used Zoom video teleconferencing software to record real-time, screen-shared internet use for 4 consecutive days. On average, children recorded 164 minutes each over the 4-day study period. Recordings were coded for gaming content by activity, using game applications and watching gaming content using social media. Game application characteristics were also recorded. Of every online hour recorded, 28.6% showed gaming content-using game applications (18%) and watching (10.7%). Male and low-deprivation children recorded more gaming content as part of their screen-shared internet use than female and high-deprivation children. Game application time comprised gameplay (56.6%), non-gameplay (43.4%), and included advertising 16.4% of the time. Most games were 'Advergames' [games including advertising (85.7%)], were free-to-play (98.4%), and included in-game purchases (87.3%). One-quarter (25.5%) included 'Random Items' (e.g. loot boxes) as part of these purchases, and 28.6% allowed users to interact with other users. While 'playing' using smartphone game applications, children are exposed to highly commercialized contexts that include manipulative design features, adult themes and advertising. Children, who are most vulnerable to online harms, must be protected in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.</p>","PeriodicalId":54256,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion International","volume":"40 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11879639/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143558755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Co-production of a youth advocacy video on the harms of e-cigarette advertising in Scotland.","authors":"Marissa J Smith, Caroline Vaczy, Shona Hilton","doi":"10.1093/heapro/daae097","DOIUrl":"10.1093/heapro/daae097","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to investigate young people's exposure to and perceptions of e-cigarette advertising to co-produce an advocacy video. This focus on e-cigarette marketing and its targeted appeal to young people comes at a crucial juncture, as policymakers in the UK and Scotland channel considerable efforts into shaping new regulations in response to these concerns, such as banning disposable e-cigarettes. The research to co-design a video was conducted with 33 young people aged between 12 and 16 living in the Central Belt of Scotland. The research comprised four stages: workshops, photo elicitation, focus groups and video development. Young people expressed concerns regarding the potential health effects of e-cigarettes, the ubiquity of e-cigarette advertising and products seemingly directed at young people, and the use of e-cigarettes among their peers. While none of our participants identified themselves as e-cigarette users, and all were below the age of 18, some mentioned seeing targeted advertisements for e-cigarettes online. These concerns were also reflected in participants' contributions to the video production process. Our findings highlight that young people feel overly exposed to e-cigarette advertising and they identified aspects of these adverts (including the use of vibrant colours and flavour variations) that they felt were designed to appeal specifically to young people. These findings suggest the need for stronger legislation to protect young people from the advertising and marketing of e-cigarettes. Further research might also usefully contribute to understanding counterarguments and marketing from public health advocates to limit the appeal of e-cigarettes to young people.</p>","PeriodicalId":54256,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion International","volume":"40 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11879641/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143558681","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Karen Maree Gainey, Kirsten McCaffery, Danielle Muscat
{"title":"Perspectives of people with chronic illness about plain language summaries: a qualitative analysis.","authors":"Karen Maree Gainey, Kirsten McCaffery, Danielle Muscat","doi":"10.1093/heapro/daaf044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaf044","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>People with chronic health conditions tend to look for information from a range of sources. Although information online is accessible, the quality varies and articles in scientific journals are not written for a general audience. Given this, plain language summaries (PLSs) may be a useful source of information, especially for people with chronic medical conditions. PLSs contain reliable information that is written in plain, easy-to-understand language. We investigated the health information-seeking behaviour of consumers with chronic health conditions and sought to understand what they see as important in a PLS with respect to content, design and structure, and the labels used. We conducted semi-structured focus groups and interviews with 19 participants from 6 countries, all with a chronic medical condition. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we developed four themes: (i) 'Accessing information in a competitive landscape of health information'; (ii) 'I really don't see the patient in this at all'; (iii) 'Co-design should be meaningful, not tokenistic'; and (iv) 'A way forward: Approach PLSs with creativity'. Participants highlighted the importance of PLS labels, the need for actionable content, and the recommendation to vary the reading level depending on audience needs. The results of this study suggest that PLSs produced with consumer input could elicit PLSs that better meet audience needs, focusing on information that is actionable, accessible, and written with useful content that is detailed but still respectful of the reader. Consequently, PLSs could become a more useful source of reliable information, particularly for people with chronic health conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":54256,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion International","volume":"40 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12008741/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143999943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}