Project Summary/Abstract
Given the broad negative effects of low health literacy, national calls from multiple agencies (e.g., Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics, World Health Organization, American
School Health Association, Society for Public Health Education) have been made to improve health literacy
across all levels of the US population. English Language Learners (ELs) face significant challenges as limited
English proficiency further compounds the problem of low health literacy, making certain groups within the
United States especially vulnerable to health disparities. Studies reveal that Hispanic/Latinx populations have
been found to be at the highest risk of limited health literacy when compared to other minority populations.
Limited health literacy has been shown to adversely impact use of preventative services, minimize visits to
healthcare facilities, increase nonadherence to medical prescriptions, and lead to higher rates of preventable
hospital visits as well as use of emergency services.
In this Phase I SBIR application, we propose to develop a proof-of-concept for a commercially viable
technology-based solution, HealthyU-Latinx, designed to improve health literacy for Latinx EL secondary
school students and their families. HealthyU-Latinx will be a web/mobile-based, self-paced curriculum,
featuring animated instructional videos, live demonstration videos, reading materials, and engaging interactive
games and activities. The prototype will feature both a student-facing component for school settings and a
family-facing component for the home setting which will include support for role-plays, and family-based
activities and games. The initial prototype, based on our successful HealthyU program, will focus on skills such
as accessing and using insurance, medication management, managing medical emergencies, and accessing
health-related resources and services in the community.
The prototype will be developed across multiple iterations with significant engagement with Latinx students
and their families throughout the development process and will be assessed in a small study with 40 families in
both school and home settings where we will assess feasibility, usability, and improvements in knowledge and
skill.
