Health Literacy and Cardiovascular Knowledge Workshop in Women From Disadvantaged Communities

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The current health literacy (HL) pilot intervention was designed through focus groups with women in low socio-economic status (SES) communities. The primary HL issue identified was communication challenges at doctors' visits. As a unique HL intervention tailored to the participants' preferences, this intervention can serve as a model for improving HL in similar communities worldwide. Objectives include increasing the percentage of women who utilize patient-doctor communication skills and increasing their cardiovascular disease (CVD) knowledge. A unique HL intervention tailored to the participants' preferences was designed which consisted of three workshops conducted in municipality-sponsored women's groups in low SES Jerusalem communities. Questionnaires were completed before and three months after the intervention. The study answers the following: Can HL workshops improve patient-doctor communication skills and CVD knowledge in low SES women?

Detailed Description
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The current health literacy (HL) pilot intervention was designed through focus groups with women in low socio-economic status (SES) communities. The primary HL issue identified was communication challenges at doctors' visits. As a unique HL intervention tailored to the participants' preferences, this intervention can serve as a model for improving HL in similar communities worldwide. Objectives include increasing the percentage of women who utilize patient-doctor communication skills, prepare for their doctor's visit, and increase their cardiovascular disease (CVD) knowledge. In order to accomplish these objectives, a unique HL intervention tailored to the participants' preferences was designed which consisted of three workshops conducted in municipality-sponsored women's groups in low SES Jerusalem communities. This intervention consisted of a three consecutive weekly workshop conducted in women's support groups in disadvantaged communities in Jerusalem. The workshop includes women's heart health sessions, as well as sessions about how to make the most of a doctor's visit, which includes role play and teach back method practice. A self-admitted questionnaire regarding CVD and relevant HL knowledge and behaviors was completed at the beginning of the intervention, and three months after the last session. This study answers the question of whether a three session HL workshop for women can successfully raise their CVD knowledge and awareness, as well as change behaviors of women in terms of preparing for doctor's visits.

Official Title
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Health Literacy and Cardiovascular Knowledge Workshop in Women From Disadvantaged Communities

Conditions
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Health Literacy, Communication

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Interactive workshop based on community specific needs


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Women from Jerusalem Hebrew and Arabic speakers Exclusion Criteria: None

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 Years
Maximum Age: 90 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Interventional Model Description: This is a pre/post study.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Women participating in HL intervention<br>Groups of women from disadvantaged communities will participate in a three session health literacy workshop | Behavioral: Interactive workshop based on community specific needs<br>* Intervention components will include lecture on women's CVD, workshop on how to prepare for a doctor's visit, patient's rights and patient-doctor communication skills, and a know your numbers workshop, including understanding blood test results.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in preparation for doctor's visit | Women complete self report survey indicating if whether or not they prepared for their doctor's visit, whether or not they prepared a list of questions for their doctor's visit, a list of symptoms, a list of medications, and their medical background information | Before intervention and three months after intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in cardiovascular disease knowledge | Cardiovascular disease knowledge will be assessed through a self report questionnaire based on the American Heart Association's Cardiovascular disease knowledge survey items | At baseline and three month after intervention | 
| Change in perceived efficacy in patient-physician interaction | Perceived efficacy in patient-physician interaction (PEPPI) will be assessed via PEPPI self report scale (Maly, Frank, Marshall, Diametteo, Reuben, 1998) | At baseline and three month after intervention | 
| Change in knowledge of health measures | Knowledge of health measures will be assessed through self report questionnaire | At baseline and three month after intervention | 
| Change in reading blood test results | Reading blood test results will be assessed through self report questionnaire | At baseline and three month after intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD), Community-based intervention, Socio-economic status (SES), Health literacy (HL)