Return-Path: <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id j23IdfC15080; Thu, 3 Mar 2005 13:39:41 -0500 (EST) Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 13:39:41 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <410-22005343183816968@earthlink.net> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Debbie Yoho" <dwyoho@earthlink.net> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:4673] Call for papers X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII X-Mailer: EarthLink MailBox 2004.0.129.0 (Windows) Status: O Content-Length: 3820 Lines: 90 Posted by moderator: Call for papers Studies in Communication Sciences Thematic section on: Enhancing health literacy through communication Guest Editors: Peter J. Schulz, Health Care Communication Laboratory, School of Communication Sciences, University of Lugano Kent Nakamoto, Department of Marketing, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Access to health information is greater than ever before. The mass media and the Internet have made available to health consumers vast amounts of medical and health-related information. Policy shifts have increased consumers’ access to medical records. This welter of information, however, can overwhelm consumers; they feel overloaded, confused, and uncertain which information and information sources to trust. Moreover, the technical complexity of the information can compound these problems. In many ways, consumers often lack the health literacy to make effective use of the available information. Health literacy is a complex phenomenon that plays around a delicate interrelation of at least three factors: the ability to read and understand medical information, the ability to use medical information for one’s own health and make good decisions on the basis of it, and people’s general attitudes toward life. The damaging consequences of low health literacy have been widely documented. Low health literacy is associated at the individual level with lower self-esteem and less successful interaction with healthcare providers, and at a community level with increasing health care costs and hospitalization. Conversely, increasing health literacy can lead to crucial gains in compliance, recall, and satisfaction. As such, the concept of health literacy has become a central concern in the field of health communication. This thematic section of Studies in Communication Science aims to bring together contributions that explore communication strategies to both reach people with low health literacy and increase health literacy. We invite researchers in the humanities and social sciences, as well as mass-media and technology scholars to share theoretical perspectives, empirical studies, and case experiences on this topic. Interdisciplinary contributions are particularly welcome. Article Format & Topics: Article in the thematic section can have a length of up to 15 pages (400 words per page, footnotes and bibliography included). Each author receives 25 free bound reprints of his or her article. The list of possible article topics includes (but is not limited to): · Measures to increase readability · Health literacy and people’s attitudes toward health and health-related products and services · Health literacy skills · Health literacy in the domain of patient/provider communication · Health literacy and Informed Consent · Health literacy in decision-making · Case studies on health literacy · Improving health literacy through different media · Health literacy and new technologies Key Dates: · Submission of Abstract (1-2 pages): 31st March 2005 · Feedback on Abstract: 15th April 2005 · Submission of Article: 30 June 2005 · Feedback from Reviewers: 15th September 2005 · Final Version due: 31st October 2005 · Publication of the Journal: December 2005 Contact Information: For questions or to submit an abstract contact: peter.schulz@lu.unisi.ch The Journal’s website (including notes for contributors) can be found at: www.scoms.ch For the Cause! Debbie Deborah W. Yoho Co-moderator, NIFL-Health Listserv Executive Director, Greater Columbia Literacy Council Past President, SC Adult Literacy Educators 2728 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29205 803-765-2555 Fax 803-799-8417 dwyoho@earthlink.net
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