{"title":"Health literacy support for Australian home-based care recipients: A role for homecare workers?","authors":"Debra Palesy, Samantha Jakimowicz","doi":"10.1080/01621424.2019.1691698","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Clear links have been established between low health literacy (HL) levels and poor health outcomes. One means of improvement may be found in the rapidly growing paid home care workforce, whose direct and frequent contact with aged/disabled care recipients positions them to provide HL support. This study examines Australian homecare worker (HCW) experiences in HL when providing assistance to their care recipients. A self-reported cross-sectional survey collected data from 75 HCWs. They reported concerns about their clients’ HL, yet were cautious about providing support in this area. HL levels of the HCWs themselves were unconvincing, and the majority requested targeted education and training. Further research is needed into HL levels of both HCWs and care recipients, client demographics, the types of HL support being requested of HCWs, a more detailed scoping of the HCW role, and the curriculum and pedagogies which may comprise a HL education and training program for HCWs.","PeriodicalId":45875,"journal":{"name":"HOME HEALTH CARE SERVICES QUARTERLY","volume":"39 1","pages":"17 - 32"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2000,"publicationDate":"2019-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/01621424.2019.1691698","citationCount":"2","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"HOME HEALTH CARE SERVICES QUARTERLY","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/01621424.2019.1691698","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"HEALTH POLICY & SERVICES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 2
Abstract
ABSTRACT Clear links have been established between low health literacy (HL) levels and poor health outcomes. One means of improvement may be found in the rapidly growing paid home care workforce, whose direct and frequent contact with aged/disabled care recipients positions them to provide HL support. This study examines Australian homecare worker (HCW) experiences in HL when providing assistance to their care recipients. A self-reported cross-sectional survey collected data from 75 HCWs. They reported concerns about their clients’ HL, yet were cautious about providing support in this area. HL levels of the HCWs themselves were unconvincing, and the majority requested targeted education and training. Further research is needed into HL levels of both HCWs and care recipients, client demographics, the types of HL support being requested of HCWs, a more detailed scoping of the HCW role, and the curriculum and pedagogies which may comprise a HL education and training program for HCWs.
期刊介绍:
Home Health Care Services Quarterly continues to publish important research on the cutting edge of home care and alternatives to long-term institutional care for the elderly, disabled, and other population groups that use in-home health care and other community services. The journal is aimed toward service providers and health care specialists involved with health care financing, evaluation of services, organization of services, and public policy issues.