Improving Organizational Health Literacy Responsiveness in Cardiac Rehabilitation Using A Co-Design Methodology: Results from The Heart Skills Study

Abstract

For health services, improving organizational health literacy responsiveness is a promising approach to enhance health and counter health inequity. A number of frameworks and tools are available to help organizations boost their health literacy responsiveness. These include the Ophelia (OPtimising HEalth LIteracy and Access) approach centered on local needs assessments, co-design methodologies, and pragmatic intervention testing. Within a municipal cardiac rehabilitation (CR) setting, the Heart Skills Study aimed to: (1) Develop and test an organizational health literacy intervention using an extended version of the Ophelia approach, and (2) evaluate the organizational impact of the application of the Ophelia approach. We found the approach successful in producing feasible organizational quality improvement interventions that responded to local health literacy needs such as enhanced social support and individualized care. Furthermore, applying the Ophelia approach had a substantial organizational impact. The co-design process in the unit helped develop and integrate a new and holistic understanding of CR user needs and vulnerabilities based on health literacy. It also generated motivation and ownership among CR users, staff, and leaders, paving the way for sustainable future implementation. The findings can be used to inform the development and evaluation of sustainable co-designed health literacy initiatives in other settings.

Addressing Health Literacy Needs in Rheumatology: Which Patient Health Literacy Profiles Need the Attention of Health Professionals?

“…A recent study showed promising effects of health literacy interventions, particularly the use of teach-back communication, on medication adherence and disease activity in a rheumatology setting (35). In addition, Ophelia studies in other settings have shown the potential for intervention development using health literacy profiles to achieve organizational change (23,36).…”

Translation, cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Ghanaian language (Akan; Asante Twi) version of the Health Literacy Questionnaire

“…The HLQ is useful in surveys, intervention studies, and in uncovering the needs and capabilities of individuals [ 8 ]. Interpretations of HLQ data support decisions on changes in clinical treatments to suit the health literacy needs of patients [ 3 , 20 – 23 ], develop group or population health literacy interventions [ 24 ] and to assess whether an intervention was successful in promoting health literacy of individuals or groups [ 25 ]. The HLQ covers nine conceptually distinct areas (scales) of health literacy including: Feeling understood and supported by healthcare providers Having sufficient information to manage health Actively managing my health Social support for health Appraisal of health information Ability to actively engage with healthcare providers Navigating the healthcare system Ability to find good health information Understand health information well enough to know what to do.…”

Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Health Literacy Research Around the World: More Important Than Ever in a Time of COVID-19

“…The growing research topic of organizational health literacy was the level of the social ecological model with the most articles. These articles include "Improving Organizational Health Literacy Responsiveness in Cardiac Rehabilitation Using A Co-Design Methodology: Results from The Heart Skills Study" by Aaby et al [63], which considers how to improve organizational health literacy responsiveness in cardiovascular care. Trezona et al [64] provide a relevant self-assessment tool for organizational health literacy in "Field-Testing and Refinement of the Organisational Health Literacy Responsiveness Self-Assessment (Org-HLR) Tool and Process".…”