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Year Awarded: 2009
Project Leaders:
Hye-Jin Paek, Advertising, Public Relations, and Retailing; Samantha Cavghlan, Teacher Education; Thomas Hove, Advertising, Public Relations, and Retailing; Debra Oyler, Calumet Public School Library
Project Description:
This multidisciplinary study aims to investigate and improve children's Internet health literacy in a geographically isolated area of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. While children's Internet use is widespread, few studies have investigated Internet health literacy among this population. If we can understand and develop educational tools to improve rural children's Internet health literacy, we can cultivate beliefs and habits that will improve both current and future health decisions.
Our partnership with the Calumet Public School Library connects us with both the local school district and surrounding communities. The library plays key roles in children's Internet education and in providing technological resources to the local communities. These communities include many families who have made a faith-based choice to raise their children without television. However, these same families have Internet access at home, and their children actively go online. Previous research has found that traditional media (print, radio, TV) and non-traditional media (e.g., Internet) play a crucial role in adolescent health literacy. But the impact of Internet use without the combined effect of television remains unknown.
In Phase I of this project, we gather information about technology use and health literacy among both children and parents. During Phase II, we train parents and adolescents to use Internet training modules on health-related issues. In Phase III, we conduct surveys to assess improvement in health literacy outcomes. Our project has potential for large-scale external funding because it is among the first to explore and develop intervention programs for children's Internet health literacy.
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