Producing health information in consultation with health workers and the hepatitis B-affected communities is worthwhile
Gabrielle Bennett A F , Jacqueline Richmond B C D and Alexander J. Thompson EA Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Vic. 3065, Australia.
B The Burnet Institute, Disease Elimination, Commercial Road, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
C La Trobe University, The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, Bundoora, Vic. 3083, Australia.
D Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
E Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Emails: gabrielle.bennett@svha.org.au, gben1104@yahoo.com.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 27(2) 116-121 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY20188
Submitted: 12 August 2020 Accepted: 13 November 2020 Published: 15 February 2021
Abstract
Globally, approximately 257 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B. Many people are undiagnosed, have low health literacy and experience barriers to engaging in care. In Australia, there is a lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate resources to support people living with the infection to increase their understanding and build their capacity. This innovative practice paper describes the process of developing a culturally and linguistically appropriate resource using the principles of participatory action research. The hepatitis B story was designed to facilitate discussion between healthcare workers and consumers, and to increase the knowledge and understanding of both. Consultation with consumers and a broad range of health services contributed to the quality of and demand for the resource. A case study tells the story of ‘Thuy’. This case study demonstrates the practical application of the resource and describes the positive affect its use had on Thuy and her family. Increasing our understandings of how people experience chronic hepatitis B is crucial to improving health information, testing and engagement in care. Producing health information with consumers is a worthwhile process to increase consumers’ health literacy and improve service delivery.
Keywords: comprehensive health care, consumer participation, disease management, health care disparities, health literacy, hepatitis B, integrated delivery of health care.
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