Health Information Access
Health education: "a social science that draws from the biological, environmental, psychological, physical and medical sciences to promote health and prevent disease, disability and premature death through education-driven voluntary behavior change activities."
Consumer health informatics: "the field devoted to informatics from multiple consumer or patient views. These include patient-focused informatics, health literacy and consumer education."
Our Interests
Health information is not accessible to people with disabilities. People with developmental disabilities do not receive developmentally and age-appropriate sexual education. People with sensory disabilities face barriers to accessing multimedia. Researchers know that improving people's knowledge and attitudes about a health issue is more effective when the person receiving the information is interested in the topic. We use community-engaged research methods to identify the types of health issues and information people with disabilities are interested in, and then apply best practices to tailor health information to their needs.
Example Projects
Health Information Needs among Deaf People
Our projects have assessed health concerns and health information seeking among deaf and hard-of-hearing people. For example, the Florida Deaf Health Needs Assessment of 2018 found that the greatest health concern among deaf people who use American Sign Language was mental health, anxiety, and depression. This indicates a need for researchers and health professionals to focus on these topic areas.
