**This course has Continuing Education available.  Please see the “FAQ” tab to complete the continuing education requirements.

Course Description: The purpose of this public health literacy web-based training program is to educate public health professionals about public health literacy and their role in providing health information and services and promoting public health literacy. This web-based course uses a 508-compliant template, knowledge checks, evaluation, CE and other credits, glossary and resources tabs, scenario-based interactions and video clips.

Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to accomplish the following:

1. Define and describe public health literacy.
2. List factors that influence public health literacy.
3. Identify who is affected by public health literacy.
4. Recognize the consequences of limited public health literacy.
5. Determine who are the stakeholders in public health literacy.
6. Recognize the role of public health literacy in meeting core public health services.
7. Apply lessons learned to improve public health literacy.

Target Audience: Physicians, Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Dentists, Pharmacists, Health Educators, Health Communicators, Public Affairs Specialists, Administrators, Epidemiologists, Public health program managers.

Subject Area(s):              

• General Public Health
• Management / Leadership
• Policy / Planning
• Program Development
• Other
• Healthcare
• Audience(s):
• Epidemiologists / Surveillance Staff
• Educators / Trainers
• Nurses
• Physicians and Other Clinicians
• Pharmacy Professionals
• Dental Professionals

Course Language(s): English

Course Level: Introductory

Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals:     

• Tier One
  • Communication Skills
    • Identifies the literacy of populations served (e.g., ability to obtain, interpret, and use health and other information; social media literacy)
    • Communicates in writing and orally with linguistic and cultural proficiency (e.g., using age-appropriate materials, incorporating images)
    • Solicits input from individuals and organizations (e.g., chambers of commerce, religious organizations, schools, social service organizations, hospitals, government, community-based organizations, various populations served) for improving the health of a community
    • Suggests approaches for disseminating public health data and information (e.g., social media, newspapers, newsletters, journals, town hall meetings, libraries, neighborhood gatherings)
    • Conveys data and information to professionals and the public using a variety of approaches (e.g., reports, presentations, email, letters)
    • Communicates information to influence behavior and improve health (e.g., uses social marketing methods, considers behavioral theories such as the Health Belief Model or Stages of Change Model)
    • Facilitates communication among individuals, groups, and organizations
    • Describes the roles of governmental public health, health care, and other partners in improving the health of a community
• Tier Two
  • Communication Skills
    • Assesses the literacy of populations served (e.g., ability to obtain, interpret, and use health and other information; social media literacy)
    • Communicates in writing and orally with linguistic and cultural proficiency (e.g., using age-appropriate materials, incorporating images)
    • Solicits input from individuals and organizations (e.g., chambers of commerce, religious organizations, schools, social service organizations, hospitals, government, community-based organizations, various populations served) for improving the health of a community
    • Selects approaches for disseminating public health data and information (e.g., social media, newspapers, newsletters, journals, town hall meetings, libraries, neighborhood gatherings)
    • Conveys data and information to professionals and the public using a variety of approaches (e.g., reports, presentations, email, letters, press releases)
    • Communicates information to influence behavior and improve health (e.g., uses social marketing methods, considers behavioral theories such as the Health Belief Model or Stages of Change Model)
    • Facilitates communication among individuals, groups, and organizations
    • Communicates the roles of governmental public health, health care, and other partners in improving the health of a community

Sponsor: CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention