Mini-reviewMeeting the health literacy needs of immigrant populations
Introduction
There are many significant health risks confronting the public today, including the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, HIV/AIDS, and other serious health threats [1], [2]. Effective health communication is needed to help those members of the public who are at greatest risk (most vulnerable) for these threats to recognize, minimize, and respond effectively to these potential health problems [3], [4].
Section snippets
Immigrant populations and health communication
Immigrant populations are among the most vulnerable members of modern American society for experiencing cancer-related health disparities [5]. Similar problems with high levels of cancer morbidity and mortality exist for poor and immigrant populations across the globe, particularly in low and middle-income countries [6]. Unfortunately, current efforts are sorely insufficient to provide immigrant populations with relevant health information to empower them to make informed decisions about their
Policy and practice implications for strategic communication
What policies and best practices are needed to guide effective communication of health information to vulnerable immigrant populations? First and foremost, communication interventions to educate vulnerable populations need to be strategic and evidence-based. This is too complex a process to be handled without careful planning and data. It is also critical for health educators to adopt culturally sensitive communication practices to reach and influence vulnerable populations. Community
Conflict of interest
None.
Acknowledgements
Thanks and appreciation to the special issue editorial team Dr. Gary Kreps, Dr. Linda Neuhauser, Dr. Lisa Sparks, and Dr. Melinda Villagran for providing insights, editorial expertise, and proofreading this review article.
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2022, Patient Education and CounselingCitation Excerpt :This allows individuals to have the knowledge about information that could help them to cope with the CVD, so they can make a more appropriate decision of their learning needs. It is also important to assess other characteristics and skill of these patients, including their culture and language skills, their beliefs, attitudes and values, and self-efficacy levels, their motivations to seek health information, and their preferred communication channels [108]. Some strategies that could work include use of familiar images and examples culturally adapted, involve family members and key members of their community, and use multiple ways to deliver important messages.
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