Digital Health Literacy in the Training of Informal Caregivers – Community Intervention

Abstract Background Health Literacy allows optimizing healthy lifestyles and preventive and health protective behaviors (DGS, 2019). Low literacy can lead to a greater number of hospitalizations, a more frequent use of emergency services and a lower prevalence of preventive attitudes in the field of health. Internet-based interventions could have a positive impact on informal caregivers, reducing the geographical barrier, promoting self-efficacy in managing their own emotions, reducing burden. Aim Contribute to the training of informal caregivers of a primary health care unit in Lisbon, through the promotion of digital health literacy. Methods The Community Intervention project was carried out in the context of a home visit, focusing on 11 informal caregivers, through the presentation of an interactive digital manual. It was based on the methodology of health planning, through the elaboration of a diagnosis of the situation, definition of priorities, setting of objectives, selection of strategies, operational preparation and evaluation (Imperatori & Giraldes, 1993). Results It was found that not all informal caregivers have access to the internet or digital technologies, and it was necessary to deliver the printed manual. Caregivers who accessed the interactive digital manual rated its content as very important, having accessed the suggested links without difficulty. The possibility of forwarding the digital manual to other caregivers was valid for all. Conclusions Digital technologies promote communication in terms of health promotion, contributing to universal access and digital training in health, giving individuals the opportunity to increase care for their own health. The creation of digital health tools must be directed to the characteristics of the population. For individuals with low digital literacy, simple technologies must be created and for those who cannot or do not want to use digital tools, adequate alternatives must be created. Key messages • Primary care health professionals may use digital technologies to promote health literacy. • Vulnerable groups with low digital health literacy need support to increase access to digital technology that can promote health literacy.


Background:
Health Literacy allows optimizing healthy lifestyles and preventive and health protective behaviors (DGS, 2019). Low literacy can lead to a greater number of hospitalizations, a more frequent use of emergency services and a lower prevalence of preventive attitudes in the field of health. Internet-based interventions could have a positive impact on informal caregivers, reducing the geographical barrier, promoting self-efficacy in managing their own emotions, reducing burden.

Aim:
Contribute to the training of informal caregivers of a primary health care unit in Lisbon, through the promotion of digital health literacy.

Methods:
The Community Intervention project was carried out in the context of a home visit, focusing on 11 informal caregivers, through the presentation of an interactive digital manual. It was based on the methodology of health planning, through the elaboration of a diagnosis of the situation, definition of priorities, setting of objectives, selection of strategies, operational preparation and evaluation (Imperatori & Giraldes, 1993).

Results:
It was found that not all informal caregivers have access to the internet or digital technologies, and it was necessary to deliver the printed manual. Caregivers who accessed the interactive digital manual rated its content as very important, having accessed the suggested links without difficulty. The possibility of forwarding the digital manual to other caregivers was valid for all.

Conclusions:
Digital technologies promote communication in terms of health promotion, contributing to universal access and digital training in health, giving individuals the opportunity to increase care for their own health. The creation of digital health tools must be directed to the characteristics of the population. For individuals with low digital literacy, simple technologies must be created and for those who cannot or do not want to use digital tools, adequate alternatives must be created.

Background:
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) share key determinants like unhealthy diet, unhealthy 24h-movement behaviour (sleep, sedentary behaviour and physical activity), leading to other risks including overweight, obesity and raised blood pressure. Although the manifest of the NCDs in childhood is rare, risk behaviours, obesity, and raised blood pressure that accelerates their development begin during childhood. The current study aims to analyze the effectiveness of the intervention program based on the promotion of health literacy and lifestyles, on children's health literacy, lifestyles (e.g. dietary intake, 24hmovement behaviour) and overweight and obesity. Methods: 478 children (6 schools) aged 6-12years old will participate in this cluster-randomized trial, having schools as the unit of randomization, assigned into intervention (239-3schools) and the control arm (239-3schools). This project is currently performing social listening (online and offline) and stakeholders' involvement. Data collection includes sociodemographics, health literacy and infodemic resilience, dietary intake and children's 24-h movement behaviour (e.g. accelerometry), anthropometry (e.g. weight, height and waist circumference) and blood pressure. It will occur at baseline and after the intervention (follow-up, 6 months after the beginning of the intervention).

Results:
Expected outputs and outcomes include the 1-creation of a model for characterizing NCDs and health topics based on artificial intelligence techniques (e.g. deep learning, social network analysis methods).2-improved health literacy and infodemic resilience of children, families and teachers.3enhanced children's lifestyles. 4-reduce NCDs' physical risk factors (e.g. overweight, raised blood pressure).

Conclusions:
A feasible intervention program for school-aged children with vulnerabilities enhances tailored policies about health promotion and NCDs' prevention, respecting the contextś singularities.