American Journal of Health Behavior
Volume 39, Issue 3, 2015, Pages 441-450

Health literacy, information seeking, and trust in information in Haitians (Article)

Lubetkin E.I.* , Zabor E.C. , Isaac K. , Brennessel D. , Kemeny M.M. , Hay J.L.
  • a Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, City College of New York, Department of Community Health and Social Medicine, New York, NY, United States
  • b Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, New York, NY, United States
  • c Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership, City College of New York, Department of Psychology, New York, NY, United States
  • d Division of Ambulatory Care, Department of Medicine, Queens Hospital Center, Jamaica, NY, United States
  • e Queens Cancer Center, Queens Hospital Center, Jamaica, NY, United States
  • f Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, New York, NY, United States

Abstract

Objectives: To assess heath literacy, health information seeking, and trust in health-related information among Haitian immigrants seen in primary care. Methods: Health literacy was measured by the Brief Health Literacy Screen (BHLS); items on health information use were from the 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey. Results: BHLS scores differed according to age, education, and survey language. Participants with lower levels of health literacy tended to be more likely to place "a lot" or "some" trust in family and friends and religious organizations and leaders as sources of information about health or medical topics. Conclusions: Constructing a culturally-tailored and appropriate intervention regarding health promotion requires understanding how the population accesses and conveys health information. © 2015, PNG Publications. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Health literacy minority groups Health Communication Primary care

Index Keywords

male Emigrants and Immigrants Information Seeking Behavior female information seeking Trust ethnology health literacy psychology Haiti human Humans migrant middle aged United States New York City
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84925389979&doi=10.5993%2fAJHB.39.3.16&partnerID=40&md5=bb6df5b4ddb97bec0a79e75158639102
DOI: 10.5993/AJHB.39.3.16
ISSN: 10873244
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English