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Abstract
We evaluated the effectiveness of a problem-based learning (PBL) health literacy program aimed to improve health literacy, health empowerment, navigation efficacy, and health care utilization among immigrant women in Taiwan.
We employed a quasi-experimental design that included surveys at the baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 6 months after the intervention. The intervention group participated in a 10-session PBL health literacy program and the comparison group did not.
Results showed that 6 months after the intervention, the intervention group had significantly fewer ER visits and hospitalizations than the comparison group. The intervention group reported a greater decrease in delaying/avoiding health care due to communication barriers. Although the intervention group showed improvement in health literacy, health empowerment and navigation self-efficacy, the differences were not statistically significant.
The PBL health literacy program resulted in fewer ER visits and hospitalizations, and better health care access among immigrant women. Cognitive and psychological outcomes examined in the study appeared more difficult to change.
The PBL health literacy program effectively improved health care utilization and reduced barriers to health care access among immigrant women in Taiwan. It would be useful to examine the effectiveness of the program in other populations.
Acknowledgments
We acknowledge research team members S.F. Chen, C.C. Tsai, and W.W. Chung as well as the three bilingual translators involved in this study for their significant assistance in this study. Finally, we would like to thank particularly all of the immigrant women who participated in the study.