Be Wise: A complementary and alternative medicine health literacy skill-building programme

Area of Science:

• Health Literacy
• Gerontology
• Rural Health

Background:

• Health literacy is a key determinant of health status.
• Older adults in rural areas often rely on informal sources for health information, particularly for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
• Inadequate health literacy hinders effective evaluation of healthcare choices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the Be Wise health literacy skill-building program.
• To evaluate participant satisfaction and perceived usefulness of the program.

Main Methods:

• A four-session program delivered over 7 weeks in rural seniors' centers.
• Data collected from 127 participants initially, 67 post-program, and 52 after 5 months.
• Participants were predominantly Caucasian women, average age 76, with some college education.

Main Results:

• Participants reported high satisfaction with the program (scores 3.35-4.41/5).
• The program was perceived as useful for managing health (mean score 3.55/5).
• Written feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

Conclusions:

• Tailored health education programs for older adults in rural settings present unique challenges and rewards.
• Participants showed enthusiasm for enhancing their ability to make informed health decisions.
• There is a clear need for ongoing program development and evaluation of long-term outcomes.