Public health involves the organized efforts of society to prevent disease, prolong life, and promote health. These efforts are exemplified through partnerships across various public and private sectors, including academia, which are crucial in addressing complex public health challenges. An academic health department (AHD) is a formal partnership…

Objective: Examine factors contributing to high rates of Appalachian female cancer incidences and mortalities by examining cancer literacy and associated sociological influences among Appalachian university students. Participants: This study evaluated Appalachian and non-Appalachian undergraduate students in Eastern Kentucky. Methods: A Qualtrics…

Collaborative learning is an engaging approach that brings individuals together to achieve common educational goals. This study explores the effectiveness of Dentamatics, an innovative interactive board game, in enhancing oral health knowledge among children. Twelve children participated in the study, playing the game after obtaining consent from…

Despite advancements in screening technologies, gynecologic cancers remain among the deadliest and most overlooked cancers. Early detection is crucial, but many women are reluctant to undergo screening due to various barriers and misconceptions. This study explores the motivations and barriers influencing women's decisions regarding early…

Trauma is a prevalent condition that impacts individuals, groups, and populations. Trauma informed care (TIC) is a strengths-based approach that was developed to address the pervasiveness of trauma and prevent re-traumatization. Occupational therapy practitioners are likely to encounter individuals and groups who have experienced trauma and need…

There is a high prevalence of adolescent girls with ovulatory menstrual (OM) dysfunction, which is associated with school absenteeism and mental health challenges. Low menstrual health literacy among this group has evoked calls to review OM health education. This qualitative study sought to explore gaps in current OM health education and to…

Objective: This study assessed the relationship between health literacy, perceptions of traditional and electronic cigarettes, and smoking status among college students. Participants: Participants (N = 150; M[subscript age] = 20.41 years, SD 3.48), included nonsmokers (78%) and smokers (21%) of traditional (12%) and e-cigarettes (17%). Method:…

This paper explores the self-tracking information literacy practices of LGBTQ+ students, how the practices connect to LGBTQ+ identities, and whether these practices are perceived as empowering. Six semi-structured interviews were conducted with students who identified as LGBTQ+ self-trackers. Four previously discovered dimensions of IL in…

Fluoride hesitancy is a growing public health challenge and interventions to address it may need to be tailored for minoritized subgroups to address oral health inequities. The goals of this qualitative study were to investigate the extent to which an existing conceptual model on topical fluoride hesitancy is applicable to Latino parents and…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore if academic training and/or on-the-job experience predicts general health literacy, hearing loss health literacy, and self confidence levels of speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Method: Participants included 423 SLPs with differing levels of academic training and on-the-job experience working…

Head and neck cancer treatment frequently results in long-term severe swallowing deficits, often requiring feeding tube dependency. Patients who have completed swallowing exercise programs before and during cancer treatment experienced more positive swallowing outcomes, but most patients are not referred for swallowing intervention early enough in…

Worldwide health literacy levels are low. Nurses should be able to lead the improvement of the health literacy of the populations they serve. During a comprehensive review of the literature, it became apparent that previous research regarding the provision of health literacy education within Associate Degree Nursing programs was not available. The…

Objectives: Parental understanding of childhood constipation is essential for managing this common condition. This study aimed to (1) develop tailored health education materials addressing childhood constipation for parents of children aged 1 to 5 years; and (2) evaluate the effectiveness of these materials by examining changes in parental…

Autistic people are over-represented at gender clinics, but there is limited research to guide clinical practice with this group. We investigated the perspectives of clinicians working with autistic patients who experience gender dysphoria. We asked clinicians about the relationship between autism and gender dysphoria, and whether they work…

This study explored sexual orientation and gender identity as predictors of health literacy among adolescents attending New York City (NYC) public high schools. Many studies have demonstrated disparities in sexual health among sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents. However, little is known about their health literacy. Health literacy,…