Health literacy has been defined by the World Health Organization as the cognitive and social skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health. Its importance in reducing inequalities makes health literacy a thematic area that should be addressed in the training of professionals in the fields of healthcare, Social Work and Education. The objective of this study was to define the health literacy levels of students from the Universities of Girona and Barcelona (Spain) and the Regional Institute of Social Work in Perpignan (France). A cross-sectional study was conducted among students of Nursing, Social Work, Primary Education and Special Education in the 2017–2018 academic year. Sociodemographic and academic variables were considered and the HLS-EU-Q16 questionnaire was used to study health literacy levels. In total, 219 students with an average age of 24.9 participated. Of these, 64.4% were studying Social Work, 23.7% Nursing, 5.9% Primary Education, and 5.9% Special Education. Of the total sample, 36.5% were classified as sufficient in health literacy. The total average score of the health literacy index was 11.1; 13.2 among Nursing students; 10.5 among Social Work students; 10.1 among Primary Education students, and 10.1 among Special Education students (p < 0.001). Nursing students obtained the best results and healthcare was the highest rated subdomain, more than disease prevention and health promotion.

Background: Most elderly people wish to grow old at their own homes. The sociodemographic characteristics; home and neighbourhood conditions; and the social services support and networks are determinants in the possibility of “ageing in place”. The present study aimed to explore the ageing in place phenomenon, as well as the enablers and barriers that interact in a healthy ageing from the perspective of the elderly connected to local entities. Methods: A generic qualitative design was proposed in the Health Region of Girona in Catalonia (Spain). Seventy-one elderly people were purposefully selected. Six focus groups were conducted, and data were thematically analysed. Results: Three key themes were generated: (1) Participants experienced ageing differently. The physical and mental health, the family environment and financial stability were key elements for life quality. (2) The perception of the elderly’s role in the community depended on their age, health status and attitude towards life. (3) The participants identified several enablers and barriers to healthy ageing in place. Conclusions: The promotion of older people’s autonomy and wellbeing, together with the creation of an active network of health and social services, may improve the possibility for elderly to age at home and avoid or delay institutionalisation.

Gait and balance impairments are common after stroke. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a music-based rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) in combination with conventional physiotherapy on gait parameters and walking ability in subacute stroke. This single-blind, historical controlled trial, included 55 patients who had suffered a stroke within the three weeks prior to enrolment. Patients from 2018 (n = 27) were assigned as the historical control group whereas 2019 patients (n = 28) received music-based RAS three times a week. Both groups received 11 h of conventional physiotherapy per week during hospitalization. Primary outcomes were gait and balance parameters (Tinetti test and Timed Up&Go test) and walking ability (Functional Ambulation Category scale). Secondary outcomes were trunk control, assistive devices, functional independence (Functional Independence Measure, Barthel index), and stroke severity and disability (modified Rankin scale, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale). Results: No between-group differences were identified for gait and balance parameters nor for secondary outcomes. Significant between-group differences were observed in the Functional Ambulation Category: the intervention group (Δmean ± SD; 3.43 ± 1.17) showed greater improvement (p = 0.002) than the control group (Δmean ± SD; 2.48 ± 1.09). Compared with conventional physiotherapy alone, our results suggest that the walking ability of subacute stroke patients might be improved with music-based RAS combined with conventional physiotherapy, but this treatment is not more effective than conventional physiotherapy in obtaining gait and balance gains.

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