Health Literacy

The ability to read, write and communicate effectively has a strong link to health and quality of life.

Our work in literacy focuses largely on the way that new technologies provide access to health information and what skills are necessary to benefit from this knowledge. To support this work, we developed the concept of eHealth Literacy (Norman & Skinner, 2006a) and the eHealth Literacy Scale or eHEALS (Norman & Skinner, 2006b), which we use to inform our work.

eHealth Literacy Scale: This is the first psychometrically assessed tool to examine eHealth Literacy concept. This freely available instrument is currently in use around the world and is the focus of a budding community of practice initiative on the eHealth Promotion social network at : http://ehealthpromotion.ning.com .

The eHealth Literacy Scale paper in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org) was awarded the Best Paper of the Year distinction by the International Medical Informatics Association.

The eHealth literacy scale is available for download at http://www.jmir.org:

Past eHealth Literacy Projects:

The 5 E’s for Health Project explored the question: What kind of skills do you need to get online to learn about health? This is the central question we seek to answer in a study with schools in Ontario and Manitoba using Youth Voices’ virtual classrooms on tobacco and HIV/AIDS awareness. In partnership with TakingITGlobal, this project will be evaluating the experience of using these classrooms with students and teachers in promoting understanding and awareness of health issues through a literacy lens. Youth Voices works with partners in the education system and health promotion sector to strengthen the skills of youth and health professionals alike in their ability to find their way through the information available for self care and optimal wellness.