Evaluating information is So Important. For resources on that topic,
turn to MedlinePlus:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/evaluatinghealthinformation.html
Thanks for bringing that up Keri!
siobhan 


Siobhan Champ-Blackwell, MSLIS
Community Outreach Liaison
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Creighton University Health Sciences Library
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-----Original Message-----
From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Keri Jupka
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 12:25 PM
To: The Health and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [HealthLiteracy 1829] Re: Health Litearcy Definitions

In my eyes it is not just being able to find the information, and
understand it but also being able to evaluate that information. I think
this is especially important in today's world where we are all being
bombarded with information from the media, some of which is less than
trustworthy.

Keri







>At 07:28 AM 3/6/2008, you wrote:

>>believe that literacy has far more meaning than whether a person can

>>understand the words and meaning. In addition to that notion, if a

person

>>does have difficulty with the comprehension factor, they/everyone can

have a

>>sensory disability that adds to the frustration and access to good

health

>>care.

>

>HI Valerie,

>

>I whole-heartedly agree. I work primarily with people who have

intellectual

>and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD), and am a firm believer that

"health

>literacy" is far more than a literacy exercise. I also believe most on

this

>list feel the same way.

>

>In my work with Special Olympics, we have been talking about what

health

>literacy means for athletes involved with Special Olympics. Since I"m

still

>developing this area of the Healthy Athletes program, I"m happy to hear

any

>thoughts about this working definition:

>

>

>What is "Health Literacy"?

>

>The Institutes of Health defines health literacy as:

>

>"the extent to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process,

and

>understand basic health information services needed to make appropriate

>health decisions."

>

>This definition is also included in Healthy People 2010.

>

>However, most people working in the area of health literacy develop a

more

>practical version of this definition. One that I like for health

literacy

>within Healthy Athletes is:

>

>"the ability to understand how and where to get health-related

information,

>understand it, use it correctly to improve health, and act on it to

make

>behavior change."

>

>Regardless of the official definition, health literacy is a type of

>"functional literacy," with a focus on what the person can do with

their

>skills (seek information, establish a medical or dental home, act on

>information to change behavior to improve health and so on).

>

>We are dedicated to sharing education for parents, professionals, and

>people with intellectual disabilities - particularly athletes in

Special

>Olympics - to improve health through improved health literacy for

people

>with intellectual disabilities.

>

>2008 (c) Special Olympics, Inc.

>

>

>-------

>Joan E Guthrie Medlen, R.D., L.D.

>Clinical Advisor, Health Literacy & Communications

>Special Olympics Healthy Athletes

>joan at DownSyndromeNutrition.com

>503.246.3849

>

>

>

>----------------------------------------------------

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>Email delivered to jupkaka at slu.edu



-- 
___________________
Keri Jupka, MPH
Research Coordinator
Health Communications Research Lab
Saint Louis University School of Public Health
3545 Lafayette Room 408
St. Louis, MO 63104
Telephone- (314)-977-4084
fax: (314) 977-4016

The sun shines not on us, but in us.
		_ John Muir
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