Innovative Methods to Increase Community Participation in Health Literacy and Health Education Programs
Abstract
Abstract:
Background: According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), health literacy is the degree to which individuals can find, understand, and use information and services to make informed health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others. Minority populations experience a disproportionate impact of health disparities prompting a call to increase access to health services and promote health literacy.
In June 2022, the City of Albany received a $3.9 million federal grant from the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (Grant Number 1 CPIMP211229) to reduce COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and increase COVID-19 health literacy through a partnership with a historically black college and university (HBCU).
Methods: The Advancing Health Literacy (AHL) team at Albany State University (ASU) was charged with the responsibility of implementing the AHL award in collaboration with the City of Albany. The ASU Administration, faculty, and staff supported this effort. The ASU AHL team developed a plan to involve the community by providing mini-grants to local organizations with the ability to implement programs addressing COVID-19 health literacy, vaccine hesitancy, vaccine uptake, and participant-provider interaction. The AHL team provided technical grant writing workshops to provide local organizations with assistance to complete the mini-grant application. Several local organizations were awarded funding. The mini-grant awardees hosted various community events to include health fairs, community fitness events, healthy eating and cooking sessions, family fun days, gamification, health literacy workshops and many other events with a common goal to provide COVID-19 health literacy and access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Results: There were 19,096 individuals participating in program activities across events. There were 21 community-based organizations assisting with implementation of program activities. At least 2377 individuals were vaccinated against COVID-19 at the events. Program satisfaction was over 93%. Medical barriers and vaccine myths were identified as the most common barrier to vaccination (40-45%). The most likely strategy for vaccine acceptance among the unvaccinated was additional information on COVID-19 vaccine (80% or above).
Keywords
Community based research, Innovation, COVID-19, Health Education, Health Literacy
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Innovative Methods to Increase Community Participation in Health Literacy and Health Education Programs
Abstract:
Background: According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), health literacy is the degree to which individuals can find, understand, and use information and services to make informed health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others. Minority populations experience a disproportionate impact of health disparities prompting a call to increase access to health services and promote health literacy.
In June 2022, the City of Albany received a $3.9 million federal grant from the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (Grant Number 1 CPIMP211229) to reduce COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and increase COVID-19 health literacy through a partnership with a historically black college and university (HBCU).
Methods: The Advancing Health Literacy (AHL) team at Albany State University (ASU) was charged with the responsibility of implementing the AHL award in collaboration with the City of Albany. The ASU Administration, faculty, and staff supported this effort. The ASU AHL team developed a plan to involve the community by providing mini-grants to local organizations with the ability to implement programs addressing COVID-19 health literacy, vaccine hesitancy, vaccine uptake, and participant-provider interaction. The AHL team provided technical grant writing workshops to provide local organizations with assistance to complete the mini-grant application. Several local organizations were awarded funding. The mini-grant awardees hosted various community events to include health fairs, community fitness events, healthy eating and cooking sessions, family fun days, gamification, health literacy workshops and many other events with a common goal to provide COVID-19 health literacy and access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Results: There were 19,096 individuals participating in program activities across events. There were 21 community-based organizations assisting with implementation of program activities. At least 2377 individuals were vaccinated against COVID-19 at the events. Program satisfaction was over 93%. Medical barriers and vaccine myths were identified as the most common barrier to vaccination (40-45%). The most likely strategy for vaccine acceptance among the unvaccinated was additional information on COVID-19 vaccine (80% or above).
