Maija-Leena Huotari

Preventing the Obesity Epidemic by Second Generation Tailored Health Communication: An Interdisciplinary Review

Background The prevention of obesity and health concerns related to obesity are major challenges worldwide. The use of eHealth communication and the tailoring of information delivered via the Internet at the individual level may increase the effectiveness of interventions. Mastering behaviors related to nutrition, physical activity, and weight management are the main issues in preventing obesity, and the need for interdisciplinary knowledge within this area is obvious. Objective The objectives were to review the literature on tailored health communication and to present an interdisciplinary analysis of studies on “second” generation tailored interventions aimed at behavior change in nutrition, physical activity, or weight management. Methods A literature search was conducted of the main electronic information sources on health communication. Selection criteria were defined, and 23 intervention studies were selected. The content analysis focused on the following: study designs, objectives of behavior change, target groups, sample sizes, study lengths, attrition rates, theories applied, intervention designs, computer-based channels used, statistically significant outcomes from the perspective of tailoring, and possible biases of the studies. However, this was not a structured meta-analysis and cannot be replicated as such. Results Of the 23 studies, 21 were randomized controlled trials, and all focused on behavior change: 10 studies focused on behavior change in nutrition, 7 on physical activity, 2 on nutrition and physical activity, and 4 on weight management. The target groups and the number of participants varied: 8 studies included more than 500 participants, and 6 studies included less than 100. Most studies were short; the duration of 20 studies was 6 months or less. The Transtheoretical Model was applied in 14 of the 23 studies, and feedback as a tailoring mechanism was used in addition to an Internet site (or program) in 15 studies and in addition to email in 11 studies. Self-reporting was used in 15 studies, and 14 studies did not have a no-information control group. Tailoring was more effective in nutrition interventions than in physical activity and weight management interventions. The outcomes were mixed or negative in 4 studies of physical activity interventions and in 3 studies of weight management. The use of a no-information control group seemed to have been linked to statistically significant between-group effects in measuring physical activity. This bias effect related to intervention design may explain the differences in the outcomes of the physical activity studies. Conclusions Tailoring was shown to have been an effective method in nutrition interventions, but the results for physical activity were mixed, which is in line with previous studies. Nevertheless, the effect of possible biases, such as relying solely on self-reports and on intervention design without a no-information control group, should not be underestimated. Thus, the issue of bias merits more attention in planning interventions and in future meta-analyses.

Trust in knowledge management and systems in organizations

This work aims at tying trust to knowledge management (KM). It highlights the complexity of the invisible phenomenon of trust challenged by the global economy, and explores the multidisciplinary nature of the concepts of trust and KM.

Health information literacy in everyday life: a study of Finns aged 65-79 years.

This article examines the health information literacy of elderly Finns. The results are based on a survey conducted in January 2011. The questionnaire was distributed to 1000 persons that were randomly drawn from the Finnish Population Register. The respondents were aged 65–79 years (mean age 70 years) and lived in the Turku region in Finland. A total of 281 questionnaires (28%) were returned. χ2 analyses were used to find possible relationships between demographic factors, as well as interest, seeking activity, current self-rated health and different dimensions of health information literacy, including needs, seeking and use of health-related information. Significant relationships were found between education level, interest in health information, seeking activity, self-rated current health and dimensions of health information literacy. Some categories of elderly people are more vulnerable regarding obtaining and use of health information: those with lower levels of education, those with poor health, and those who are not interested in and active at seeking information. For people who are found in any of these categories, it is important that available health-related information is understandable and can be accessed without too much effort—something that information providers should take into account.

Gamified physical activation of young men – a Multidisciplinary Population-Based Randomized Controlled Trial (MOPO study)

BackgroundInactive and unhealthy lifestyles are common among adolescent men. The planned intervention examines the effectiveness of an interactive, gamified activation method, based on tailored health information, peer networks and participation, on physical activity, health and wellbeing in young men. We hypothesize that following the intervention the physical activation group will have an improved physical activity, as well as self-determined and measured health compared with the controls.Methods/designConscription-aged men (18 years) attending compulsory annual call-ups for military service in the city of Oulu in Finland (n = 1500) will be randomized to a 6-months intervention (n = 640) or a control group (n = 640) during the fall 2013. A questionnaire on health, health behaviour, diet and wellbeing is administered in the beginning and end of the intervention. In addition, anthropometric measures (height, weight and waist circumference), body composition, grip strength, heart rate variability and aerobic fitness will be measured. The activation group utilizes an online gamified activation method in combination with communal youth services, objective physical activity measurement, social networking, tailored health information and exercise programs according to baseline activity level and the readiness of changes of each individual. Daily physical activity of the participants is monitored in both the activation and control groups. The activation service rewards improvements in physical activity or reductions in sedentary behaviour. The performance and completion of the military service of the participants will also be followed.DiscussionThe study will provide new information of physical activity, health and health behaviour of young men. Furthermore, a novel model including methods for increasing physical activity among young people is developed and its effects tested through an intervention. This unique gamified service for activating young men can provide a translational model for community use. It can also be utilized as such or tailored to other selected populations or age groups.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01376986

Knowledge processes : A strategic foundation for the partnership between the university and its library

Purpose – To explore the nature of the universitys knowledge processes and to specify the librarys role in these processes. Design/methodology/approach – A theoretical framework for strategic management based on the concepts of the value constellation of networked enterprises and the knowledge processes is applied along with the concept of a strategic partnership to indicate the librarys new role within the university. Findings – The librarys role in the generative knowledge processes is likely to become the major managerial challenge. Its role in the productive knowledge processes will increase, and in the representative knowledge processes it will diversify. Research limitations/implications – The same research object could be approached empirically from a multidisciplinary perspective, i.e. the transforming research and teaching processes and enhancement of the librarys role in them. The impact of the librarys intellectual capital on the universitys intellectual capital should be examined in terms of performance assessment in theory and practice. Practical implications – Illuminative examples indicate how libraries can take a more proactive, strategic role in practice. Originality/value – This timely paper develops a sound theoretical basis on which the library can be understood as a vital member of a strategic partnership in the management of the universitys intellectual capital. It is a significant application to library management of theory from outside the field. The paper is rich in stimulating ideas, and should be of considerable interest to a wide readership.

A Screening Tool for Assessing Everyday Health Information Literacy

This article reports a study about a design process and empirical testing of a practical screening tool aiming at identifying individuals with limited everyday health information literacy (EHIL). First, the relevance of the two related concepts “health literacy” and “health information literacy” are discussed. Secondly, a 10-item tool based on the operationalization of the Medical Library Association’s definition of health information literacy is presented. To pilot the tool, a survey (N=217) was conducted in an Upper Secondary School in Finland in April 2011. The statistical analysis consists of frequency analyses, ftests for means (ANOVA), correlation analyses (Pearson’s r, two-tailed), cross tab-analyses (chi-square) and a factor analysis (extracted and rotated via unweighted least squares and varimax respectively). The results prove that the EHIL screening tool can be used for dividing people into groups according to their level of health information literacy. Results also indicate gender differences: the female students were more motivated to obtain health information than the male students and they to a greater extent preferred to obtain health information from various sources compared to the male students. Three independent factors of EHIL were found: 1) motivation on finding health information, 2) confidence in one’s ability to find, understand, and use health information, and 3) evaluation of health information. This result suggests that these three aspects should be further examined when studying the complex phenomenon of health information literacy and designing measurement tools for practical uses. A shortened 4-item screening tool is presented and proposed for further study and testing as a part of medical interventions, digital library services or modern ICT applications in health education.

Knowledge creation and the concept of a human being: A phenomenological approach

This study explores the effect of interaction in research on knowledge creation (KC) and its dependence on the conceptualization of a human being. A framework for understanding KC with hermeneutic phenomenology is developed, based on an analysis of recent KC research and key texts on hermeneutic phenomenology. The results obtained indicate that recent KC research still emphasizes the concept of knowledge as an asset inside the human mind, although the interest is in knowing and interpersonal relationships in working communities. Exploration of the use of the effect of interaction in research on KC shows that successful interaction is connected to the ideas of openness, critical thinking, and awareness of past experiences. These elements reflect the general ideas of the hermeneutic tradition without taking into account the historical roots of hermeneutics or questioning the concept of a human being behind them. It is concluded that the hermeneutic circle and phenomenological conceptualization of a human being provide a better defined and more coherent structure for understanding the event of KC as a future‐oriented, conscious act of interaction. The framework developed offers three fundamental areas for exploration: structure of the interactive event, construction of the human experience in interaction, and modes of being in interaction.

Information behavior in stages of exercise behavior change

This study augments the transtheoretical model (TTM) of behavior change with the concepts of information behavior and employs this framework to understand young mens needs for and practices of obtaining and avoiding information on physical activity and exercise in relation to their readiness to change exercise behavior. The results, based on statistical analyses of a population-based survey (N = 616) conducted in Finland, indicate that health information behavior is influenced by an individual′s stage of change in the context of physical activity and exercise. In pre-action stages (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation) where individuals do not exercise regularly and are uninformed or lack motivation, commitment, or skills to change behaviors, information is most often encountered through the passive practice of nondirected monitoring. In the action stage, where individuals have recently changed their exercise behaviors, information is obtained most frequently by active seeking. In the maintenance stage, where individuals maintain earlier adopted behaviors, information is habitually obtained through active scanning. These results support the TTM in its postulation that individuals may benefit from stage-tailored health-communication strategies. The limitations of this study include self-reported behaviors, cross-sectional study design, and a possibly biased sample. Further research is needed to explore the role of information behavior in the process of behavior change in greater detail.

Everyday health information literacy among young men compared with adults with high risk for metabolic syndrome - a cross-sectional population-based study

This cross-sectional population-based study aims at identifying differences in the aspects of everyday health information literacy among young healthy men and adults with an increased risk for metabolic syndrome. Data were collected with a self-assessment-based 10-item screening tool administered at the Finnish Defence Force’s call-ups (n=2507, response rate 59%) and at health intervention study (n=571, response rate 98%). Adults with increased risk for metabolic syndrome seemed to value health information but had more difficulty in knowing who to believe in health issues and understanding the terminology used. The difficulties applied especially to respondents 35 years old or over. Men, and especially young men, had lower motivation than women to seek health information. Although the results are indicative, the everyday health information literacy screening tool seems to be useful in revealing areas that health communication should be focused on among different populations.

The University Library's Intellectual Capital

The article is concerned with the university librarys intellectual capital (IC) as a part of the universitys IC. The concept of IC is analyzed as consisting of the three main components: human capital, structural capital, and relational capital. These components are described in the context of the university library. It is suggested that certain kind of professional understanding and knowledge could be used to integrate the librarys IC with the universitys IC. It is claimed that this integration could enhance the librarys contribution to the overall performance on the university. It is seen as a very important issue to demonstrate the role the university library can play in the growth of the universitys intellectual capital, performance, and outcomes at a time when public funding for the universities is diminishing.