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Development of a complex intervention to improve health literacy skills
Author(s) -
AustvollDahlgren Astrid,
Danielsen Stein,
Opheim Elin,
Bjørndal Arild,
Reinar Liv Merete,
Flottorp Signe,
Oxman Andrew David,
Helseth Sølvi
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
health information and libraries journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.779
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1471-1842
pISSN - 1471-1834
DOI - 10.1111/hir.12037
Subject(s) - transparency (behavior) , health literacy , knowledge management , intervention (counseling) , health care , public health , critical appraisal , psychological intervention , medicine , patient portal , medical education , computer science , world wide web , nursing , alternative medicine , political science , computer security , pathology , law
Background Providing insight into the developmental processes involved in building interventions is an important way to ensure methodological transparency and inform future research efforts. The objective of this study was to describe the development of a web portal designed to improve health literacy skills among the public. Methods The web portal was tailored to address three key barriers to obtaining information, using the conceptual frameworks of shared decision‐making and evidence‐based practice and based on explicit criteria for selecting the content and form of the intervention. Results The web portal targeted the general public and took the form of structured sets of tools. Content included: an introduction to research methods, help on how to find evidence‐based health information efficiently based on the steps of evidence‐based practice, an introduction to critical appraisal, information about patient participation rights in decision‐making, and a decision aid for consultations. Conclusions The web portal was designed in a systematic and transparent way and address key barriers to obtaining and acting upon reliable health information. The web portal provides open access to the tools and can be used independently by health care users, or during consultations with health professionals.