Disaster Preparedness Information Needs of Individuals Attending an Adult Literacy Center: An Exploratory Study

Autor/inn/en	Friedman, Daniela; Tanwar, Manju; Yoho, Deborah W.; Richter, Jane V. E.
Titel	Disaster Preparedness Information Needs of Individuals Attending an Adult Literacy Center: An Exploratory Study
Quelle	In: Community Literacy Journal, 4 (2009) 2, S.55-73 (19 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1555-9734
Schlagwörter	Information Needs; Terrorism; Self Efficacy; Public Health; Adult Basic Education; Adult Learning; Adult Students; Information Seeking; Adult Literacy; Mixed Methods Research; Natural Disasters; Crisis Management; Emergency Programs; Community Information Services; Interviews; Knowledge Level; Familiarity; Community Attitudes; Cloze Procedure + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Information need; Informationsbedürfnis; Terrorismus; Self-efficacy; Selbstwirksamkeit; Gesundheitswesen; Adult; Adults; Education; Adult education; Erwachsenenbildung; Adulte education; Adult training; Student; Students; Erwachsenenalter; Studentin; Schüler; Schülerin; Informationserschließung; Natural disaster; Naturkatastrophe; Krisenmanagement; Hilfsprogramm; Interviewing; Interviewtechnik; Wissensbasis; Lückentext
Abstract	Being prepared with accurate, credible, and timely information during a disaster can help individuals make informed decisions about taking appropriate actions. Unfortunately, many people have difficulty understanding health and risk-related resources. This exploratory, mixed methods study assessed disaster information seeking behaviors and comprehension of public health disaster preparedness resources by individuals with low literacy. A convenience pilot sample of 20 adult learners (mean age: 53.1) attending a local literacy center were recruited. Health literacy was assessed using Newest Vital Sign (NVS) and modified Cloze (multiple choice) tests on biological terrorism and Avian influenza. In-person interviews were conducted to determine participants' knowledge, perceptions, and information needs about disasters. Thematic analysis of interviews was conducted using NVivo7. Mean NVS was 3.11/6.00 implying poor health literacy. Mean Cloze scores revealed marginal disaster comprehension (Avian flu: 0.46/1.00; Biological terrorism: 0.48/1.00). Over half of participants with inadequate Cloze comprehension self-rated their understanding as "good." Key themes emerging from interviews were: misperceptions about disasters, limited access to preparedness resources, need for visuals and plain language information, and importance of knowing where to go during a disaster. Study findings advocate for multimedia, plain language, and visual communication to improve adult learners' self-efficacy in interpreting instructions and acting appropriately in preparing for and responding to disasters. (Contains 1 figure and 2 tables.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Community Literacy Journal. Department of Writing, Rhetoric, & Discourse, DePaul University, 802 West Belden Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614. Tel: 906-370-0206; Web site: http://communityliteracy.org/
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10