Parents' comprehensive health literacy and child health after attending extended home visiting in Swedish multicultural settings-A case-comparison study.

Background: Parents' low health literacy (HL) has negative impacts on child health. Parental interventions may improve parents' HL and thus impact child health positively.

Objectives: This study aimed to gain knowledge about associations between parents' comprehensive HL (CHL) and child health after an extended postnatal home visiting program in Swedish multicultural, disadvantaged settings compared to parents receiving regular child healthcare (CHC).

Associations of psychological factors with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular health in middle-age: the population-based Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage study (SCAPIS).

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major global health issue, primarily caused by atherosclerosis. Psychological factors may play a role in the development and progression of CVD. However, the relationship between psychological factors and atherosclerosis is complex and poorly understood.

Can extended health communication improve newly settled refugees' health literacy? A quasi-experimental study from Sweden.

Structural and contextual factors such as limited work and housing opportunities negatively affect the health and well-being of newly settled refugee migrants in receiving high-income countries. Health promotion initiatives aiming at strengthening health and integration have been tried out within the Swedish Introduction program for refugee migrants. However, longitudinal evaluations of these interventions are rare.

Life's Essential 8 in relation to self-rated health and health-related quality of life in a large population-based sample: the SCAPIS project.

Purpose: To monitor cardiovascular health, in 2022, the American Heart Association (AHA) updated the construct "Life's Simple 7" (LS7) to "Life's Essential 8" (LE8). This study aims to analyze the associations and capacity of discrimination of LE8 and LS7 in relation to self-rated health (SRH) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods: This study from the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS) included 28 731 Swedish participants, aged 50-64 years.

Women's experience of the health information process involving a digital information tool before commencing radiation therapy for breast cancer: a deductive interview study.

Background: Individuals undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer frequently request information before, throughout and after the treatment as a means to reduce distress. Nevertheless, the provision of information to meet individuals needs from their level of health literacy is often overlooked. Thus, individuals information needs are often unmet, leading to reports of discontent.

"Putting words to their feelings"- civic communicators' perceptions and experiences of an in-depth course on mental health for newly settled refugee migrants in Sweden.

Background: Newly settled refugee migrants face psychological stressors stemming from pre-, during- and post-migration experiences. In Sweden, mental health promotion is part of the health module in the civic orientation classes for newly settled refugee migrants. Training courses are offered to civic communicators and workshop leaders to facilitate communication about mental health; however, the training is seldom evaluated.

Validity and reliability of the swedish versions of the HLS-EU-Q16 and HLS-EU-Q6 questionnaires.

Background: Health Literacy is a crucial factor for health. In Europe, many people have limited health literacy (i.e.

Changes in Comprehensive Health Literacy Among First-Time Parents Attending Extended Home Visiting in Swedish Multicultural Settings: A Case-Comparison Study.

Introduction: This study aimed to gain knowledge about the impact of an extended postnatal home visiting program on parents' comprehensive health literacy (CHL) in multicultural, socioeconomically disadvantaged Swedish settings.

Method: This quasi-experimental study adopted a case-control sampling method recruiting first-time parents through two Child Health Care Centers in Stockholm. Participants were interviewed twice through structured questionnaires when their child was aged between less than two months (n = 193) and 15-18 months (n = 151) from October 2017 to August 2020.

Validity and reliability of the arabic version of the HLS-EU-Q16 and HLS-EU-Q6 questionnaires.

Background: Health literacy is an important social determinant of health and affects the ability to make decisions and take action to manage one's health. The purpose of this study was to psychometrically examine the Arabic versions of HLS-EU-Q16 and HLS-EU-Q6 and their response patterns among Arabic-speaking persons in Sweden.

Methods: By convenience sampling from a variety of settings, a total of 335 participants were invited to participate.

A cross-sectional study of health and well-being among newly settled refugee migrants in Sweden-The role of health literacy, social support and self-efficacy.

Structural barriers such as inadequate housing, lack of employment opportunities, and discrimination are known to adversely affect the health of newly settled refugee migrants. However, these barriers remain largely unresolved and unaddressed. Thus, there is a need to better understand how other factors, such as individual-level health resources, may influence health and mitigate ill health in the early post-migration phase.

Health literacy and digital health information-seeking behavior - a cross-sectional study among highly educated Swedes.

Background: The benefits of digital development in health care may be obscured by unequal opportunities to make use of digital resources. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of health literacy with I) accessing health check test results in the Patient Electronic Health Record (PAEHR), II) searching for information to better understand individual test results, and III) using the national health information online portal provided by the Swedish national health care system.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included data from 434 individuals, 50-64 years old, randomly selected from the Swedish population during the year 2017 to a cohort study including health examination and a web-based survey.

COVID-19 Information in Sweden: Opinions of Immigrants with Limited Proficiency in Swedish.

COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of health information for prevention of communicable disease. Knowledge about groups that have high risk is important to prevent disease transmission. In Sweden, immigrants have been identified as one such group.

Psychometric qualities of the HLS-EU-Q16 instrument for parental health literacy in Swedish multicultural settings.

Background: Health literacy (HL) is important for individuals in terms of knowledge and competence to make decisions about healthcare, health promotion and disease prevention. Migrants generally demonstrate lower HL levels compared to the majority populations. HL interventions among migrants are rarely studied.

Health literacy and e-health literacy among Arabic-speaking migrants in Sweden: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Health inequities arise when the public cannot access and understand health information in an easy, accessible, and understandable way. Evidence supports that health literacy (HL) is a determinant for health outcomes, and when HL is limited this may have a major impact on morbidity as well as mortality. Migrants are known to have limited HL.

"This course is like a compass to us" - a qualitative study on newly settled migrants' perceptions of civic and health orientation in Sweden.

Background: Migrants face structural, socio-political barriers in their resettlement processes that negatively affect their health. Migration also adversely impacts resources such as social capital and health literacy that are of importance for health and integration into society. Hence, there is a need for health promotion in the early post-migration phase.

Arabic Version of the Electronic Health Literacy Scale in Arabic-Speaking Individuals in Sweden: Prospective Psychometric Evaluation Study.

Background: Health information is often communicated through the internet. It is vital for the end user to have a range of digital skills as well as understand the information to promote their health. There is a valid and reliable 8-item instrument, the Electronic Health Literacy Scale (eHEALS), that evaluates these skills.

Experiences and needs concerning health related information for newly arrived refugees in Sweden.

Background: Owing to communication challenges and a lack of knowledge about the health care system, refugees may be at risk of having limited health literacy, meaning that they will have problems in achieving, understanding, appraising and using health information or navigating in the health care system. The aim of this study was to explore experiences and needs concerning health related information for newly arrived refugees in Sweden.

Methods: A qualitative design with a focus group methodology was used.

The Swedish Version of the Electronic Health Literacy Scale: Prospective Psychometric Evaluation Study Including Thresholds Levels.

Background: To enhance the efficacy of information and communication, health care has increasingly turned to digitalization. Electronic health (eHealth) is an important factor that influences the use and receipt of benefits from Web-based health resources. Consequently, the concept of eHealth literacy has emerged, and in 2006 Norman and Skinner developed an 8-item self-report instrument to measure these skills: the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS).

Perspectives on health examination for asylum seekers in relation to health literacy - focus group discussions with Arabic and Somali speaking participants.

Background: Asylum seekers coming to most countries are offered a specific health examination. A previous study concluded that a considerable proportion of those taking part of it in Sweden had poor experiences of the communication in and the usefulness of this examination and had poor health literacy. The aim of this study was to explore in greater depth the experiences of the health examination for asylum seekers among Arabic- and Somali-speaking participants in Sweden.

Psychometric validation of Swedish and Arabic versions of two health literacy questionnaires, eHEALS and HLS-EU-Q16, for use in a Swedish context: a study protocol.

Introduction: Equity in health and access to healthcare regardless of gender, ethnicity or social position is a major political issue worldwide. Regardless of an individual's knowledge, motivation and competence, individuals are expected to be engaged and take responsibility of their own care. Migrants have been identified as a vulnerable population in healthcare, and an explanation for the inequity in health and in healthcare is limited health literacy.

Poor health and refraining from seeking healthcare are associated with comprehensive health literacy among refugees: a Swedish cross-sectional study.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to explore the distributions of comprehensive health literacy (CHL), general health, psychological well-being, and having refrained from seeking healthcare among refugees in Sweden. Further objectives were to examine associations between CHL and the above-mentioned factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 513 refugees speaking Arabic, Dari, and Somali.

Health literacy levels and views about being invited to a colorectal cancer screening program.

Background: Sweden has not yet implemented a national screening program for colorectal cancer, but a nationwide study is ongoing; the Screening of Swedish Colons (SCREESCO). Previous research shows that the use of health care services, together with several health-related outcomes, is associated with an individual's level of health literacy. However, the relation between health literacy and participation in colorectal cancer screening has produced varying results reported within the few studies addressing this issue and therefore, further research is warranted.

Health literacy and refugees' experiences of the health examination for asylum seekers - a Swedish cross-sectional study.

Background: The purpose of the health examination for asylum seekers in most countries is to identify poor health in order to secure the well-being of seekers of asylum and to guarantee the safety of the population in the host country. Functional health literacy is an individual's ability to read information and instructions about health and to function effectively as a patient in the health system, and comprehensive health literacy is an individual's competence in accessing, understanding, appraising and applying health information. Little is known about refugees' health literacy and their experiences of the health examination for asylum seekers.

Health literacy among refugees in Sweden - a cross-sectional study.

Background: Refugees have poorer health compared to indigenous populations, which may be explained by lower health literacy, i.e. not being able to access, understand, appraise or apply health information.

Measuring health literacy - the Swedish Functional Health Literacy scale.

Background: The benefits of health promotion efforts vary due to a complexity of reasons. One possible reason for an absence of effects is the level of functional health literacy among the individuals that participate in the interventions. Thus, valid and reliable instruments that capture these kinds of skills are needed.