HealthyU-Latinx: A Technology-based Tool for addressing Health Literacy in Latinx Secondary Students and their Families

Project Summary/AbstractGiven 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.