Mobile Health Literacy Interventions and Health Disparities Reduction
摘要
This chapter discusses the critical role of health literacy in addressing health disparities and highlights the ways that electronic and mobile health applications can help. Health literacy, the ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information, is essential for managing health, navigating the healthcare system, and engaging in preventive behaviors. Low health literacy often exacerbates health disparities in disadvantaged groups. The chapter highlights how mobile health (mHealth) and electronic health (eHealth) technologies can mitigate these disparities. These technologies, including telemedicine and educational apps, provide innovative solutions to improve access to care, enhance health literacy, support chronic disease management, and offer personalized care. For example, telemedicine can bridge healthcare access gaps for rural or low-income populations, while educational apps make health information more understandable for those with low literacy levels. Challenges such as the digital divide and privacy concerns emphasize the need for targeted interventions, healthcare provider training, and policy changes. The chapter also introduces the ASK (Abilities, Skills, and Knowledge) model, a framework for developing effective mHealth interventions that promote health literacy. This model underscores the importance of personalized, user-friendly solutions tailored to individuals’ varying levels of health literacy. The chapter presents mHealth and eHealth as powerful tools to improve health literacy and reduce health disparities, contributing to greater health equity.