Type of Presentation

Poster Session (45 minutes)

Target Audience

Higher Education

Location

Lobby

Abstract

“Health Literacy is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.” National initiatives call for improved health literacy as a means of addressing ongoing health disparities in the U.S. Low health literacy is linked to a poorer overall health status and higher risk of death among at-risk populations. Vulnerable populations include older adults, immigrant populations, minority populations and low income populations. College years are a time when young adults transition from parental control to independence and face new challenges, stressors and messages within their environment. Such factors can either undermine or positively influence healthy behaviors. Improved health literacy skills can play a vital role during this vulnerable period. Through providing training on health resources, recognizing national health observances, and hosting health promotion events, the Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library has implemented programming designed to raise health and wellness awareness, and enhance the health information literacy skills of college students enrolled at Clark Atlanta University, the Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse College and Spelman College. This poster session will provide detailed information about how an HBCU library used information literacy training and student engagement activities to inform student perceptions of their roles in health maintenance decision and lifestyle choices.

Presentation Description

This poster session will demonstrate how academic libraries can become agents of change in the ongoing battle against health disparities in the United States. The Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library has begun to offer training sessions and implement other health promotion activities to enhance students’ health information literacy skills and raise awareness about how making informed health and lifestyle decisions that will influence their health status over time.

Session Goals

1) To raise awareness about the need to improve health information literacy of college students

2) To provide examples of simple activities that academic libraries can implement to promote the health literacy of library users

3) To demonstrate how library-hosted health literacy programming be used as a means of career development for students who interested in pursuing careers in the health sciences

Keywords

Health literacy, health information literacy, health promotion, public health, public health education, healthy lifestyles, health outcomes

Publication Type and Release Option

Presentation (Open Access)

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Feb 21st, 1:00 PM Feb 21st, 1:45 PM

Woodi Health Hub: Promoting Health Information Literacy to Students in the Atlanta University Center

Lobby

“Health Literacy is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.” National initiatives call for improved health literacy as a means of addressing ongoing health disparities in the U.S. Low health literacy is linked to a poorer overall health status and higher risk of death among at-risk populations. Vulnerable populations include older adults, immigrant populations, minority populations and low income populations. College years are a time when young adults transition from parental control to independence and face new challenges, stressors and messages within their environment. Such factors can either undermine or positively influence healthy behaviors. Improved health literacy skills can play a vital role during this vulnerable period. Through providing training on health resources, recognizing national health observances, and hosting health promotion events, the Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library has implemented programming designed to raise health and wellness awareness, and enhance the health information literacy skills of college students enrolled at Clark Atlanta University, the Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse College and Spelman College. This poster session will provide detailed information about how an HBCU library used information literacy training and student engagement activities to inform student perceptions of their roles in health maintenance decision and lifestyle choices.