The RhoGAP SPV-1 regulates calcium signaling to control the contractility of the Caenorhabditis elegans spermatheca during embryo transits.

Contractility of the nonmuscle and smooth muscle cells that comprise biological tubing is regulated by the Rho-ROCK (Rho-associated protein kinase) and calcium signaling pathways. Although many molecular details about these signaling pathways are known, less is known about how they are coordinated spatiotemporally in biological tubes. The spermatheca of the Caenorhabditis elegans reproductive system enables study of the signaling pathways regulating actomyosin contractility in live adult animals.

Health Literacy Competencies for European Health Care Personnel.

Background: Health literacy as a concept is gaining importance in European countries, although it is still not adequately addressed among health personnel. Health literacy supports the self-management of patients in maintaining and improving health, which could decrease the burden on health systems in Europe. However, health professionals lack adequate knowledge about health literacy and the skills to promote health literacy among their patients.

Health Literacy Teaching in U.S. Family Medicine Residency Programs: A National Survey.

Health care providers, including medical residents, often lack adequate knowledge and skills to work effectively with patients who have limited health literacy. Little is known about the degree to which medical residents are trained to communicate effectively with people who have limited health literacy. This study aimed to assess the status of health literacy training for physicians in U.

Long-Term Effects of a Health Literacy Curriculum for Medical Students.

Background And Objectives: Although there are reports of short-term benefits of health literacy curricula for improving health care professionals' communication with patients, no studies have included long-term follow-up. We sought to determine (1) whether a pre-clerkship health literacy training can improve medical students' perceived knowledge and intended behaviors vis-á-vis communication with patients who have low health literacy, (2) the longevity of any such impact at 12 months, and (3) the impact of a follow-up training 1 year later.

Methods: We conducted pre- and post-training assessments of self-perceived knowledge and perceived and planned behavior following a health literacy training for first-year medical students, with a 12-month follow-up training and repeat pre/post assessment.

A health literacy training intervention for physicians and other health professionals.

Background And Objectives: Health literacy is a key factor in communication between patients and health care professionals of all kinds. Improving the training of health professionals about patients' health literacy is a national priority that remains understudied. We sought to examine the effects of a health literacy training on physicians and nonphysician health professionals.

Health literacy practices and educational competencies for health professionals: a consensus study.

Health care professionals often lack adequate knowledge about health literacy and the skills needed to address low health literacy among patients and their caregivers. Many promising practices for mitigating the effects of low health literacy are not used consistently. Improving health literacy training for health care professionals has received increasing emphasis in recent years.

Health literacy teaching in US medical schools, 2010.

Background And Objectives: Increasing and improving training about health literacy for US health professionals has been repeatedly called for at the national level. However, little is known about the current state of health literacy teaching in US health professions schools, including medical schools. This study aimed to provide a baseline snapshot of the quantity and characteristics of health literacy teaching in US medical schools.

Teaching health care professionals about health literacy: a review of the literature.

Low health literacy is a common and serious issue in U.S. health care.