Evaluation of an Australian health literacy training program for socially disadvantaged adults attending basic education classes: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial
Abstract Background People with low literacy and low health literacy have poorer health outcomes. Literacy and health literacy are distinct but overlapping constructs that impact wellbeing. Interventions that target both could improve health outcomes. Methods/design This is a cluster randomised cont...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2016-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-3034-9 |
| _version_ | 1811233791037931520 |
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| author | Kirsten J. McCaffery Suzanne Morony Danielle M. Muscat Sian K. Smith Heather L. Shepherd Haryana M. Dhillon Andrew Hayen Karen Luxford Wedyan Meshreky John Comings Don Nutbeam |
| author_facet | Kirsten J. McCaffery Suzanne Morony Danielle M. Muscat Sian K. Smith Heather L. Shepherd Haryana M. Dhillon Andrew Hayen Karen Luxford Wedyan Meshreky John Comings Don Nutbeam |
| author_sort | Kirsten J. McCaffery |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background People with low literacy and low health literacy have poorer health outcomes. Literacy and health literacy are distinct but overlapping constructs that impact wellbeing. Interventions that target both could improve health outcomes. Methods/design This is a cluster randomised controlled trial with a qualitative component. Participants are 300 adults enrolled in basic language, literacy and numeracy programs at adult education colleges across New South Wales, Australia. Each adult education institute (regional administrative centre) contributes (at least) two classes matched for student demographics, which may be at the same or different campuses. Classes (clusters) are randomly allocated to receive either the health literacy intervention (an 18-week program with health knowledge and skills embedded in language, literacy, and numeracy training (LLN)), or the standard Language Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) program (usual LLN classes, specifically excluding health content). The primary outcome is functional health literacy skills – knowing how to use a thermometer, and read and interpret food and medicine labels. The secondary outcomes are self-reported confidence, more advanced health literacy skills; shared decision making skills, patient activation, health knowledge and self-reported health behaviour. Data is collected at baseline, and immediately and 6 months post intervention. A sample of participating teachers, students, and community health workers will be interviewed in-depth about their experiences with the program to better understand implementation issues and to strengthen the potential for scaling up the program. Discussion Outcomes will provide evidence regarding real-world implementation of a health literacy training program with health worker involvement in an Australian adult education setting. The evaluation trial will provide insight into translating and scaling up health literacy education for vulnerable populations with low literacy. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616000213448 . |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T11:26:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6cd5455bc0f94c3a8157a686c40916b4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T11:26:33Z |
| publishDate | 2016-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-6cd5455bc0f94c3a8157a686c40916b42022-12-22T03:35:13ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582016-05-0116111010.1186/s12889-016-3034-9Evaluation of an Australian health literacy training program for socially disadvantaged adults attending basic education classes: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trialKirsten J. McCaffery0Suzanne Morony1Danielle M. Muscat2Sian K. Smith3Heather L. Shepherd4Haryana M. Dhillon5Andrew Hayen6Karen Luxford7Wedyan Meshreky8John Comings9Don Nutbeam10Sydney School of Public Health, The University of SydneySydney School of Public Health, The University of SydneySydney School of Public Health, The University of SydneyPsychosocial Research Group, Prince of Wales Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South WalesCentre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision-making (CeMPED), Sydney School of Public Health, The University of SydneyCentre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision-making (CeMPED), School of Psychology, The University of SydneySchool of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South WalesPatient Based Care, Clinical Excellence CommissionNPS MedicinewiseCenter for International Education, University of MassachusettsSydney School of Public Health, The University of SydneyAbstract Background People with low literacy and low health literacy have poorer health outcomes. Literacy and health literacy are distinct but overlapping constructs that impact wellbeing. Interventions that target both could improve health outcomes. Methods/design This is a cluster randomised controlled trial with a qualitative component. Participants are 300 adults enrolled in basic language, literacy and numeracy programs at adult education colleges across New South Wales, Australia. Each adult education institute (regional administrative centre) contributes (at least) two classes matched for student demographics, which may be at the same or different campuses. Classes (clusters) are randomly allocated to receive either the health literacy intervention (an 18-week program with health knowledge and skills embedded in language, literacy, and numeracy training (LLN)), or the standard Language Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) program (usual LLN classes, specifically excluding health content). The primary outcome is functional health literacy skills – knowing how to use a thermometer, and read and interpret food and medicine labels. The secondary outcomes are self-reported confidence, more advanced health literacy skills; shared decision making skills, patient activation, health knowledge and self-reported health behaviour. Data is collected at baseline, and immediately and 6 months post intervention. A sample of participating teachers, students, and community health workers will be interviewed in-depth about their experiences with the program to better understand implementation issues and to strengthen the potential for scaling up the program. Discussion Outcomes will provide evidence regarding real-world implementation of a health literacy training program with health worker involvement in an Australian adult education setting. The evaluation trial will provide insight into translating and scaling up health literacy education for vulnerable populations with low literacy. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616000213448 .http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-3034-9LiteracyHealth literacyAdult educationShared decision makingNumeracyHealth disparities |
| spellingShingle | Kirsten J. McCaffery Suzanne Morony Danielle M. Muscat Sian K. Smith Heather L. Shepherd Haryana M. Dhillon Andrew Hayen Karen Luxford Wedyan Meshreky John Comings Don Nutbeam Evaluation of an Australian health literacy training program for socially disadvantaged adults attending basic education classes: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial BMC Public Health Literacy Health literacy Adult education Shared decision making Numeracy Health disparities |
| title | Evaluation of an Australian health literacy training program for socially disadvantaged adults attending basic education classes: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial |
| title_full | Evaluation of an Australian health literacy training program for socially disadvantaged adults attending basic education classes: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of an Australian health literacy training program for socially disadvantaged adults attending basic education classes: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of an Australian health literacy training program for socially disadvantaged adults attending basic education classes: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial |
| title_short | Evaluation of an Australian health literacy training program for socially disadvantaged adults attending basic education classes: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial |
| title_sort | evaluation of an australian health literacy training program for socially disadvantaged adults attending basic education classes study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial |
| topic | Literacy Health literacy Adult education Shared decision making Numeracy Health disparities |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-3034-9 |
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