Health information seeking and people with disability: A systematic search and scoping review

Health literacy in adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy: a mixed methods systematic review

PURPOSE

To identify evidence of health literacy in young people with cerebral palsy (13-38 years), describe current strategies they use to access and build their health knowledge, and explore associations between health literacy and quality of life (QoL).

METHODS

Four electronic databases were systematically searched (2001 to June 2023) to identify studies describing components of health literacy in this population. Two reviewers screened for eligibility, then extracted data and assessed methodological quality of included studies. Data were synthesised using a convergent integrated analysis framework and summarised with a narrative synthesis.

RESULTS

Eleven studies were included (N = 363). Evidence of health literacy was demonstrated through a range of strategies young people employed to identify their specific information needs, develop health literacy skills, and learn experientially. The preferred method for building health knowledge was obtaining information from trusted sources. Information gaps were identified in topics such as ageing with cerebral palsy, sexuality and navigating intimate relationships. There were minimal data on health literacy and QoL.

CONCLUSIONS

Young people with cerebral palsy want tailored and credible health information to increase participation in making informed health-related decisions. Building capacity and development of self-efficacy may assist with the identification of emerging health literacy needs.

Exploring the health literacy status of people with hearing impairment: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

People with hearing impairment have many problems with healthcare use, which is associated with health literacy. Research on health literacy is less focused on people with hearing impairments. This research aimed to explore the levels of health literacy in people with hearing impairment, find the barriers to health literacy, and summarize methods for improving health literacy.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted using three databases (PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase) to search the relevant articles and analyze them. The studies were selected using pre-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria in two steps: first, selection by examining the title and abstract; and second, after reading the study in full. The Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies (RoBANS) was used to assess the quality of the articles.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine studies were synthesized qualitatively. Individuals with hearing impairment were found to have lower health literacy, when compared to those without impairment, which can lead to a higher medical cost. Most of the people with hearing impairment faced barriers to obtaining health-related information and found it difficult to communicate with healthcare providers. To improve their health literacy, it is essential to explore new ways of accessing health information and improving the relationship between patients and healthcare providers.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings show that people with hearing impairment have lower health literacy than those without. This suggests that developing new technology and policies for people with hearing impairment is necessary not to mention promoting provision of information via sign language.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

OSF: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/V6UGW .

PROSPERO ID

CRD42023395556.

The relationship between fear of COVID-19 and depression, anxiety and stress in persons with disabilities: A cross-sectional study

AIM

This study aimed to determine the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 and the depression, anxiety and stress in persons with disabilities.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, the data were collected using an online survey from 178 persons with disabilities using the Personal Information Form, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S).

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants was 34.08 ± 11.8 years. The disability types that participants had were related to vision (47.2 %), hearing (25.8 %), mobility (24.7 %), cognitive (8.4 %), and chronic disease (10.1 %). It has been determined that 73.6 % of the participants stated that their access to healthcare services was restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The mean DASS-21 was 10.24 ± 8.25 and the mean FCV-19S was 17.71 ± 5.05. A positive correlation was found between DASS-21 and FCV-19S.

CONCLUSION

The pandemic has created a need to provide appropriate interventions to improve the psychosocial health of persons with disabilities.

Health information seeking in the digital age: a national survey of women with disabilities

PURPOSE

Access to high quality and accessible online health information (OHI) is critical for reducing disparities, overcoming barriers, and improving the health of women with disabilities. This study aimed to understand women with physical disabilities' use of the Internet to access OHI, most often searched health topics, perceived usefulness of OHI, and self-reported eHealth literacy and challenges in OHI seeking.

METHODS

We conducted a national online survey with 508 women with physical disabilities who used the Internet.

RESULTS

Respondents utilized a wide variety of OHI resources. They searched a broad array of health and disability-related topics, with bowel/bladder and finding a physician the most highly searched topics. They generally had confidence in their eHealth literacy skills and ability to understand statistics in OHI. Nevertheless, although our sample consisted of a majority of highly educated internet-users, a sizeable percentage found OHI seeking difficult and frustrating, did not find the information very helpful, and had concerns about the quality of information.

CONCLUSIONS

This study serves as a call to action to disability and rehabilitation scientists, health care providers, and other health professionals to enhance the availability and accessibility of OHI critical to empowering women with physical disabilities to make well-informed health decisions. Implications for rehabilitationAccess to high quality online health information (OHI) is critical for reducing disparities, overcoming barriers, and improving the health of women with disabilities.Many of the women with disabilities in our study found OHI seeking difficult and frustrating, did not find the information very helpful, and had concerns about the quality of the information.Disability and rehabilitation scientists, health care providers, and public health and health policy professionals need to do more to enhance the availability and accessibility of OHI and resources critical to empowering women with physical disabilities to make well-informed health decisions.Physical medicine and rehabilitation scientists are encouraged to develop and improve assistive technologies needed for accessing OHI, which in turn can promote the independent functioning of people with disabilities.

Clinical Characteristics, Quality of Life, and Risk Factors of Amputation Stump Skin Disease and Stump Fungal Infection in Adult Amputees in Shanghai, China

Introduction

The stump site of amputees is clinically vulnerable and prone to various skin diseases. Data regarding the impact on quality of life (QoL) of amputees with amputation stump skin disease (ASSD) and risk factors of ASSD and stump fungal infection in the Shanghai area are yet unknown.

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the QoL of amputees with ASSD and explore the risk factors of ASSD and stump fungal infection in the Shanghai area.

Methodology

A total of 104 amputees from Shanghai Hebin Rehabilitation Hospital, Otto Bock (China) Industries Co., Ltd., Shanghai Tongji Hospital, and Shanghai Rehabilitation and Vocational Training Center for the Disabled were enrolled in this study. We collected demographic, clinical, and skin fungal examination data from these amputees from April 2015 to May 2021. Dermatology life quality index (DLQI) questionnaire was used to evaluate the QoL. The risk factors for ASSD and fungal skin infection were analyzed by the univariate analyses.

Results

The median age of the 104 amputees was 57.9 ± 11.9 years with an average amputation time of 17.7 ± 15.1 years, and 73% of cases were men. The mean DLQI score of amputees with ASSD was13.6, suggesting the severe impairment of QoL. Among amputees, 41 (39.4%) had confirmed ASSD, of whom 24 (58.5%) suffered from fungal skin infection and the remaining were subjected to intertriginous dermatitis and eczema (22%), cutaneous keratosis (12.2%), and others (7.3%). Aspergillus (50.0%) was the most common species. The other fungal organisms included Trichophyton rubrum (33.3%), Candida krusei (8.3%), T. mentagrophytes (4.2%), and C. albicans (4.2%). ASSD rather than non-ASSD was more common in men (80.4%) and summer (46.3%). Summer (OR = 3.31, 95% CI = 1.19–9.17) was an established risk factor for ASSD compared to spring. The daily artificial limb wearing time > 8 h was associated with stump fungal infection.

Conclusion

The QoL of amputees with ASSD was severely affected and the ASSD was characterized by fungal infection (tinea), intertriginous dermatitis, eczema, and skin keratosis. Summer and daily prosthesis wearing > 8 h was a risk factor for ASSD. Aspergillus was the most common fungal species, especially when the stump was exposed in summer.

Socioeconomic status and ADL disability of the older adults: Cumulative health effects, social outcomes and impact mechanisms

INTRODUCTION

Socioeconomic status (SES) is one of the important indicators affecting individual's social participation and resource allocation, and it also plays an important role in the health shock of individuals. Faced by the trend of aging society, more and more nations across the world began to pay attention to prevent the risk of health shock of old adults.

METHODS

Based on the data of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2013, 2015 and 2018, this study uses path analysis and ologit model to empirically estimate the effects of SES and health shock on the activities of daily living (ADL) disability of old adults.

RESULTS

As a result, first, it was found that SES has significant impact on the disability of old adults. Specifically, economic conditions (income) plays dominant role. Economic status affects the risk of individual disability mainly through life security and health behavior. Secondly, SES significantly affecting health shock, with education and economic status showing remarkable impact, and there is an apparent group inequality. Furthermore, taking high education group as reference, the probability of good sight or hearing ability of the low education group was only 49.76% and 63.29% of the high education group, respectively, while the rates of no pain and severe illness were 155.50% and 54.69% of the high education group. At last, the estimation of path effect of SES on ADL disability indicates evident group inequality, with health shock plays critical mediating role.

CONCLUSIONS

SES is an important factor influencing residents' health shock, and health shocks like cerebral thrombosis and cerebral hemorrhage will indirectly lead to the risk of individual ADL disability. Furthermore, among the multi-dimensional indicators of SES, individual income and education are predominant factors affecting health shock and ADL disability, while occupation of pre-retirement have little impact.

Health Information Seeking by Women with Physical Disabilities: A Qualitative Analysis

BACKGROUND

Health information seeking is critical to medical decision-making and optimal health. Although researchers have begun to explore how people with disabilities search for health information, no studies have investigated health information seeking by women with physical disabilities.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the health information seeking experiences of women with physical disabilities.

METHOD

We conducted a series of semi-structured, online focus group meetings with 21 women with disabilities. Sessions were recorded and transcribed, and data were analyzed using conventional content analysis.

RESULTS

Two broad themes emerged: 1) pathways to information on general health; sexual and reproductive health; as well as bowel, bladder, and other pelvic health issues; and 2) perceived facilitators and barriers to obtaining health information. Information pathways differed by the type of information sought. Internet was a commonly used resource, with a high value placed on social media interaction among peers. Self-advocacy emerged as a prominent facilitator of health information seeking. Barriers identified were lack of disability-related education, limited accessibility, and providers' negative attitudes.

CONCLUSION

This is the first known in-depth qualitative exploration of health information seeking by women with disabilities. Study findings revealed pathways to information commonly used by women with disabilities. The study also identified notable gaps and challenges to health information seeking including the need for improved provider education and training. Findings highlight the importance of the availability and accessibility of high quality, health-related information essential for the health and well-being of women with disabilities.