Promote brain health by focusing on health literacy (5cr)

Objective

Course description: The course introduces the concept of health literacy and the factors that determine health literacy at the individual and organizational level. The course examines health literacy especially from the point of view of promoting brain health. With up-to-date brain health and dementia research, students learn to assess the public health and clinical practice actions needed to help improve brain health at a population and individual level. In the course, students practice evaluating the comprehensibility, reliability and usability of information related to brain health. In addition, the course will introduce what methods can be used to support the understanding and use of information related to brain health, as well as methods to support behavioral change processes that improve brain health. The course examines the utilization of brain health-promoting and memory-friendly activities in the planning, implementation and development of person-centred services.
After completing the course, the student will be able to

- define what health literacy means and what factors determine it
- evaluate how the organization promotes health literacy and present ways in which the organization can promote health literacy
- defines known factors and activities that promote brain health
- explain the connection between health literacy and brain health
- critically evaluate the comprehensibility, reliability and usability of written, oral and online information related to brain health
- explain what methods can be used to assess whether an individual understands information related to brain health
- explain what methods can be used to support the understanding and use of information in promoting brain health
- utilize the principles of motivational interviewing in lifestyle guidance that promotes brain health
- act as an expert in promoting brain health, participating in the planning, implementation and development of person-centred, brain health-promoting and memory-friendly services.

Content

- Factors that promote brain health based on the latest research evidence
- Evaluation of information related to brain health from the perspective of health literacy
- Supporting health literacy
- Lifestyle guidance that promotes brain health
- Development of services that promote brain health and are memory-friendly

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

You demonstrate that you know how to define health literacy and the factors affecting it, and give examples of the manifestation of health literacy in practice.
You demonstrate that you know how to name factors affecting brain health, search for the latest research information related to the topic, and describe the connection between health literacy and brain health.
You demonstrate that you know how to critically evaluate the reliability, comprehensibility and usability of information related to brain health.
You demonstrate that you can explain how the understanding and use of information related to brain health can be supported.
You demonstrate the principles of motivational interviewing and the ability to apply them in lifestyle guidance that promotes brain health.
You demonstrate that you know how to evaluate the factors related to the implementation and development of brain health-promoting and memory-friendly activities