Feleta L. Wilson

An Exploratory Study of the Health Problems, Stigmatization, Life Satisfaction, and Literacy Skills of Urban, Street-Level Sex Workers

ABSTRACT An exploratory study of 26 female urban, street-level sex workers was conducted to gather information about their health problems, feelings of stigmatization, satisfaction with life, and literacy skills. Each woman completed the health questionnaire, Stigmatization Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine. Twenty-one women had acute or chronic health problems; only eleven sought health care. Literacy scores revealed 7th to 8th grade reading levels. Feelings of stigmatization varied from low to high and all the women were found to be dissatisfied with their lives. Further research needs to address how these factors affect their use of health care and outreach services.

Using the Teach-Back Method to Increase Maternal Immunization Literacy Among Low-Income Pregnant Women in Jamaica: A Pilot Study

The purpose of this pilot study was to assess maternal health literacy of pregnant women in Jamaica and evaluate their ability to communicate the benefits, risks, and safety of the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and Hepatitis B (hep B) vaccines after using the teach back method. REALM scores were moderately, positively correlated with identification of the BCG vaccine risks (r = .43, p = .01) and with hep B vaccine benefits (r = .34, p = .05) and risks (r = .42, p = .01). Women who gave incorrect responses about the benefits or risks of the vaccines had lower REALM scores than women who gave completely correct or partially correct responses.

Patient Education Materials Nurses Use in Community Health

This study examined the reading level of patient education materials commonly used by nurses in a local health department, a community health center, and a home health care agency, and it also examined the cultural and ethnically related information included in the content of the selected educational materials. Results showed that a ninth-grade reading level was required for these patient education materials. A commercially developed booklet on parenting skills for teenage parents required the lowest reading level (fifth grade). In contrast, graduate reading level was required for materials dealing with the patients bill of rights. Culturally sensitive information was found in only 4 of the 47 materials. In the clinical settings in which these materials were used, more than 90 ethnic and cultural groups were served. The materials used to educate these groups failed to recognize cultural beliefs, values, languages, perceptions, and attitudes held by patients and families.

The suitability of United States pharmacopoeia dispensory information psychotropic drug leaflets for urban patients with limited reading skills

Although considerable research exist on the readability of patient education materials, few studies have focused on the efficacy of information drug leaflets used for psychopharmacology education of patients with limited reading skills. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the suitability of United States Pharmacopoeia Dispensary Information (USP-DI) drug leaflets (N = 42) for educating urban in-patients at a psychiatric unit using measurement criteria of the Suitability Assessment for Materials (SAM) instrument. The findings showed the USP-DI information drug leaflets were unsuitable as an educational tool for psychiatric in-patients with poor reading ability.

The Effect of Low Literacy on the Self-Care Behaviors of Men Receiving Radiation Therapy

Using Orem’s theory as the framework, two purposes guided the study: (a) to test the effectiveness of an audio-visual education program and behavioral contracting to promote self-care behaviors in managing radiation side effects and (b) to determine the extent to which low literacy affects self-care abilities. Seventy men diagnosed with prostate cancer participated in this experimental study. The nursing interventions of education and behavioral contracting significantly increased the self-care behaviors of men in managing radiation side effects. An increase in self-care behaviors was especially shown in men with low-literacy skills.

Psychometric Properties and Construct Validity of the Knowledge Information Profile–Coumadin

Background: Oral anticoagulation therapy using Coumadin (warfarin) requires significant patient involvement. Limited validated instruments exist to test patient knowledge of Coumadin, and low health literacy may impede patient self-management. Objective: This article reports the psychometric testing of the Knowledge Information Profile–Coumadin (KIP-C20) to determine (a) minimum number of items and dimensions, (b) reliability, and (c) construct validity. Methods: Participants (N = 192) were recruited from outpatient pharmacist-directed anticoagulation clinics associated with an urban teaching hospital in the Midwest United States. Instruments were the Animal Naming test (AN), Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM), and KIP-C20. Multidimensional item response theory modeling and exploratory factor analyses were used to determine the best fitting model. Results: The final instrument, renamed KIP-C14, with 3 factors and 14 items, had a good fit to data (M2 = 96.49, P < .0001; root mean square error of approximation = .04), and all factor loadings were .3 or larger. Internal consistency reliability was .65; test–retest correlation was .67. The KIP-C14 correlated positively, as expected, with years of Coumadin treatment. Subscales were differentially correlated with sociodemographic variables. Conclusions: The KIP-C14 had nearly identical, slightly higher reliability than the KIP-C20. Still, reliability was lower than expected, indicating a promising clinical assessment scale in need of further refinement.

Arab American Adolescents’ Perceived Stress and Bullying Experiences: A Qualitative Study:

In 2012, 20% of high school students were bullied in the United States. Bullying is more prevalent among minority populations. Arab American adolescents receive little research attention and are described as the invisible population. This descriptive qualitative study was conducted with 10 Arab American adolescent bullying victims to describe their bullying experiences and related stress. In addition to being bullied because of health problems or social disadvantages, Arab American adolescents reported that they were bullied because of their ethnic/racial background and religious affiliation. Victims described high stress levels and anxiety which compromised their ability to function. They reported feeling sad, angry, overwhelmed, helpless, and hurt when they were bullied. They also lost control over their lives and self-confidence. Family and friends were sources of support but school administrators and teachers were not supportive. Implications for practice and future research were discussed.

Decision-Making Process about Food Choicesand Physical Activity among Black Women Livingin New York City: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: There is a high prevalence of obesity among Black women in the US. Food choices and physical activity are among the key influences of body-mass index. Both food choices and physical activity are often influenced by complex decision-making processes. Objective: To explore the decision-making process regarding food choices and physical activity among Black women. Design: A qualitative research design was selected to conduct focus groups that gained new insights underlying the decision-making process for food choices and physical activity. Sample: Purposive sample of eight Black women, interested in sharing how they made decisions around food choices and physical activity, were recruited in Brooklyn, New York. Results: Four themes and 13 subthemes emerged. The participants’ environment contributed to their knowledge about food. For example, they knew what healthy and unhealthy foods were and were aware of US. nutritional content and requirements. The participants’ cultures and habits had an influence on food choices; and they valued and preferred physical activity such as dancing and walking but despite access within their environment, they declined participation in gymnasium type exercises. Finally, their weight preferences were non-scientific, which distorted their concept of weight and the normalization of obesity. Conclusions: The decision-making process about food choices and physical activity stemmed from sources of information, family/cultural values and personal preferences within the context of their environment.