Browsing by Author "Britt-Spells, Angelitta"

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    Health Educator Perspectives on Seeking Medicaid Reimbursement in Indiana
    (Sage, 2019) Yazel-Smith, Lisa; Hancher-Rauch, Heidi L.; Britt-Spells, Angelitta; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Health education is a growing field. However, there is confusion about the role delineation of health education specialists (HES) and other health education (HE) providers. Additionally, recent reimbursement opportunities allow employers to bill for HE services but offer confusing language regarding eligible service-providing professionals. This study surveyed health educators in Indiana to assess knowledge, attitudes, and perceived abilities to bill Medicaid and other insurers for HE services. Using a cross-sectional research design, an original 22-item Web-based questionnaire was developed and distributed to all Certified Health Education Specialist/Master Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES/MCHES) practitioners residing in Indiana. Additional respondents were recruited using a snowball technique, as original respondents asked to share the survey with colleagues. A final data set of 61 respondents was analyzed. All respondents’ organizations provided HE services, with the majority indicating they do not charge and do not bill for HE services. Additionally, 60% of the respondents agreed that HES should be reimbursed for services, and the vast majority believed reimbursement to be important for the field. With recent reimbursement opportunities for HE and preventative health services, it is important that HES advocate for the profession and for potential reimbursement opportunities, such as Medicaid, to enhance the field and support HES jobs.
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    Health Information Seeking Behavior and Perceived Source Trustworthiness in Public Health Students: A Pilot Study for Improving the Curriculum
    (2019) Hancher-Rauch, Heidi; Britt-Spells, Angelitta; Wojtyna, Amie; Standish, Megan
    Purpose: The Internet is a key resource for college students seeking health information, but it is unclear how well students are trained to evaluate the quality of information accessed. This pilot study sought to determine the sources and critical appraisal of health information accessed by public health students enrolled in a midwestern university to assess and potentially revise the health information seeking skills training of students in the program. Methods: Researchers used five questions from an online 21-item questionnaire that included demographics, novel questions regarding personal sources of health information, and evaluations of the perceived trustworthiness of information from those sources. Students in the public health education program at a mid-sized, private, midwestern university were asked to complete the online questionnaire assessing their health information seeking behavior and appraisal of the information sources. Results: A total of 46 public health students provided a final response to the questionnaire. Results highlighted that perceived beliefs regarding trustworthiness of health information sources were highest for medical providers (76%) and evidence-based websites (71%), but least for social media (65%). However, those who used social media for health information also found it to be trustworthy. Conclusions: Overall, it seemed students were capable of identifying valid health information sources, but some program revisions are recommended to better develop health literacy skills in students. Recommendations: It is recommended that programs of public health/health education consider a self-assessment of this type within their own programs. Identifying where students access health information and how they determine its validity allows programs to tailor educational experiences to best fit the needs of students.