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Health Disparities and Health Literacy: Bridging the Gap

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 925

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Department of Public Health, School of Applied Sciences, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA
Interests: psychiatric epidemiology; substance use; quantitative methods; LGBT+ health
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Health disparities remain a persistent challenge worldwide, with marginalized and underserved populations experiencing disproportionate burdens of disease, limited access to care, and poorer health outcomes. Health literacy—the ability to access, understand, and use health information effectively—is a critical determinant of these disparities. Individuals with limited health literacy often face barriers in navigating complex healthcare systems, adhering to treatment regimens, and engaging in preventive health behaviors. This Special Issue, titled “Health Disparities and Health Literacy: Bridging the Gap”, seeks to advance research that explores the intersection of health literacy and health equity. We invite empirical studies, reviews, and theoretical contributions that examine innovative strategies to enhance health literacy, reduce inequities, and improve health outcomes across diverse populations. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, culturally tailored health communication, digital health literacy, patient education interventions, policy initiatives, and community-based approaches. By bringing together multidisciplinary perspectives, this issue aims to provide actionable insights that can inform practice, policy, and research, ultimately contributing to a more equitable healthcare landscape.

Dr. Andrew Yockey
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • healthcare
  • health literacy
  • health disparities
  • equity
  • health education

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

23 pages, 811 KB  
Article
Co-Creating Organisational Health Literacy: Formative Evaluation and Feasibility Testing of OHL-Act
by Camilla Klinge Renneberg, Anne Sofie Dydensborg Rasmussen, Maiken Meldgaard, Helle Terkildsen Maindal and Anna Aaby
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(3), 391; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23030391 - 18 Mar 2026
Viewed by 558
Abstract
Background: Organisational health literacy (OHL) is increasingly recognised as a system-level strategy to address health literacy-related inequities in healthcare, yet evaluation of practical OHL tools and frameworks remain limited. This study aimed to examine the implementation experiences of the Danish OS! to inform [...] Read more.
Background: Organisational health literacy (OHL) is increasingly recognised as a system-level strategy to address health literacy-related inequities in healthcare, yet evaluation of practical OHL tools and frameworks remain limited. This study aimed to examine the implementation experiences of the Danish OS! to inform refinements, and to examine the feasibility of the refined version, renamed OHL-Act, in practice. Methods: A two-phase study guided by the RE-AIM framework was conducted. Phase 1 comprised a formative evaluation of OS! based on interviews from previous applications, informing refinement. Phase 2 involved feasibility testing of OHL-Act in a specialised diabetes centre. Results: Across implementing organisations, OS! was experienced as a practical approach supporting reflection and the generation of OHL improvement ideas, while also revealing barriers. These insights informed refinements, including clearer language, more structured facilitation guidance, and explicit prompts addressing health literacy challenges and high-risk situations. Feasibility findings indicated that OHL-Act could be delivered as intended and was perceived as acceptable, relevant, and useful in supporting reflection and the generation of OHL improvement ideas. Conclusions: OHL-Act represents a structured, co-creational approach to support OHL work. Further research is needed to examine how generated improvement ideas translate into sustained action and their potential implications for equity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Disparities and Health Literacy: Bridging the Gap)
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