Developing a model for health literacy: The Health Literacy Spider Model

Abstract

Health literacy is defined as the ability to access, understand, assess, and apply health-related information and services for the protection and maintenance of health. Low health literacy is a widespread problem in many communities. Although various interventions to improve health literacy have shown effectiveness, there is a notable absence of a multi-stakeholder approach addressing health literacy. The aim of this study was to develop a inclusive and holistic model that incorporates multiple components to address community health literacy. The Health Literacy Spider Model was developed using a holistic approach that combined expert opinion, literature review, and modelling to improved health literacy. The model is an inclusive, evidence-based framework that identifies intervention components aimed at ensuring accessibility for everyone across education, research, and practice. The model’s purpose is to create a new health literacy framework that can be implemented in schools, hospitals, and broader public health settings. Accordingly, eight components were defined within the model: traditional media, universities, health services, non-governmental organizations, local governments, digital, primary and secondary education, and policy-makers. The Health Literacy Spider Model offers an innovative, collaborative, participatory, and supportive approach to improving individual and community health literacy. Grounded in a strong theoretical basis and focused on health literacy initiatives accessible to all, the model can be used to guide education, research, practice, and policy development.