Health literacy in migrants with inflammatory rheumatic diseases: exploring strengths, needs and preferences, and developing interventions

august 2023–august 2025

Veiledere

Main supervisor: Professor Heidi Andersen Zangi, VID Speicalized University

Co-supervisor: Professor Lise-Merete Alpers, VID Speicalized University

About the project

There has been an increase in both the number and diversity of migrants in Norway. Migrants are at risk of worse health outcomes, especially when Norwegian language proficiency is poor. Health literacy has been recognised as a determinant of health, and a factor related to health promotion, health outcomes and equitable health care. It is a stated aim for Norwegian health authorities to create health literacy responsive organisations.

To date, individuals with limited proficiency in Norwegian have largely been excluded from rheumatology studies in Norway. Not only do the complex treatment strategies for inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) require advanced health literacy skills, but migrants are considered to be at risk of inadequate health literacy skills. In order to provide equitable health care to migrants with IRDs and limited Norwegian language proficiency, and specifically to make rheumatology healthcare responsive to the needs of these patients, a better understanding of their health literacy needs and the development of appropriate health literacy interventions are required.

This project will explore health literacy needs among migrant patients with IRDs and limited Norwegian language proficiency. Furthermore, the project aims to co-design health literacy interventions to improve health literacy among this patient group, as well as improve health literacy responsiveness of rheumatology healthcare services to better meet their needs.

Background

Physiotherapist with Masters in International Community Health from UiO

Forskergruppe

Brukermedvirkning i helse- og velferdstjenestene (BRUHEV)