Health literacy of an urban business community.
The impact of community-based organizations on the delivery of health care knowledge is well documented. Little research has focused on the importance of health literacy in the dissemination of health care information by minority small business owners. This study sampled 38 business owners within a local business district to assess their level of health literacy. Although adequate health literacy is not required to serve as a community resource, it may be necessary to understand the health literacy level of local business owners as gatekeepers in order to develop appropriate training/educational programs. The results of this descriptive cross-sectional study indicate that for sample of business owners, health literacy levels are adequate. The findings suggest the feasibility of using local business owners as disseminators of health-related materials to the communities in which they operate their businesses.
Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Health Sciences, College of Public Service, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi 39213, USA. barbara.johnson@jsums.edu
Barbara H
BH
Johnson
Sandra C
SC
Hayes
Olugbemiga T
OT
Ekundayo
Primus
P
Wheeler
D'Arcy M
DM
Ford
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D003132:Commerce; D019058:Community Networks; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D008875:Middle Aged; D014505:Urban Population; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult