(PR NEWSWIRE) — As a pioneering company in healthcare communications, Health Monitor Network announced the creation and funding of the first of its kind Health Equity Patient Education Longitudinal Study, led by Julius Wilder, MD, PhD, chair of the Duke University
School of Medicine Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-racism Committee; Vice Chair, Duke Dept of Medicine Minority Retention and Recruitment Committee; and Co-Director for the Duke CTSI-Community Engaged Research Initiative. Research shows that disparities in health outcomes are attributable to social drivers like low health literacy. Important information on health and patient education often fails to reach or resonate with underserved communities. The three-year study will examine how diverse populations respond to various patient-education tactics such as print, digital and video, with the goal of identifying the most effective methods and communication infrastructures for communicating relevant and important health information to diverse communities.
As Dr. Wilder says, “Numerous social drivers of health impact health, and these social factors often are beyond the reach of medicine. Low health literacy and inadequate patient education have a negative impact on the health of communities, especially communities of color and those considered socially vulnerable. Disparity in health literacy and patient education contributes to worse health outcomes, higher medical costs, longer hospital stays and greater risk of death.”
“Disparity in health literacy and patient education contributes to worse health outcomes, higher medical costs, longer hospital stays and greater risk of death.”
Julius Wilder, MD, PhD
Duke University School of Medicine
Adds Maria Lissandrello, SVP and Chief Content Officer of Health Monitor Network, “As a company
that creates original patient education content, we are in a unique position to help make a difference when it comes to health disparities. If we can deliver messages in a format that encourages people to get that checkup, to ask their doctor that question or to fill that prescription, we can help move the needle. That’s why we are so excited and hopeful to be working with Dr. Wilder on this initiative.”
Funding the study is another demonstration of Health Monitor’s continuous dedication to bridge the gaps in health literacy by creating quality patient education that empowers patients in all communities to live a healthier life regardless of race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.
Julius Wilder, MD, PhD
is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine. Dr. Wilder has a national reputation as an expert in Health Disparities, Health Equity and Social Drivers of Health. He is a principal investigator on multiple clinical trials and has received research awards for his work on social drivers of disparities in health.
