8.H. Round table: Health Literacy in Action: Innovative and Inclusive Approaches from European Joint Initiatives

Abstract   Effective health literacy is essential for individuals to navigate the complexities of health information, make informed decisions, and actively participate in their health and well-being. This workshop will examine the strategies and methodologies implemented by the 5 European Commission funded projects targeting health literacy. In total, 101 partners from 24 countries tackle different health challenges and target populations, including people in vulnerable situations, from the perspective of equity and diversity. The main objectives of this workshop include: • To highlight diverse approaches, including evidence-based methodologies. • To identify common threads to enhance the integration of health literacy strategies in the healthcare systems. • To present existing synergies and explore potential opportunities to promote health literacy actions across Europe. • To foster an ideas generation space through interactive discussion. Through short presentations from representatives of these 5 projects, followed by an interactive discussion, this session will contribute to a more comprehensive and impactful approach to enhance health literacy strategies and actions across Europe. Projects included: 1. Preventia (NCDs prevention and health promotion) fosters health literacy through training, awareness campaigns, workshops and culinary events, with a focus on NCD prevention among vulnerable groups, particularly youth and migrants. 2. The PIA Project (Prevention in Action) is a coordinated and wide-ranging action for the primary prevention of NCDs, in support of policies developed by the Member States, at the individual and social level. 3. CaregIVR (Caregiver Inclusive Virtual Reality) boosts health literacy through immersive Virtual Reality training on stroke and cardiovascular care for informal caregivers and vulnerable people. 4. JA Prevent NCD (Joint Action Prevent Non-Communicable Diseases) supports policy and practice by generating evidence on health literacy and service responsiveness at both individual and system levels across 17 countries. 5. JACARDI (Joint Action on Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes) - though 25 projects from 13 countries, co-designed with individuals, communities, and organizations, aims to optimize how they access, understand, use and appraise health information and resources. Discussion questions: 1. How has your project embedded cultural diversity in its methodology and activities to better address vulnerable groups and improve health equity across Europe? 2. How can inclusive health literacy strategies help health systems combat misinformation and disinformation, particularly in culturally and linguistically diverse communities who are disproportionately affected by it? 3. What can we learn from applying different approaches to health literacy across populations, settings, and system levels - and how can this diversity strengthen national and EU-level policy? Key messages • Approaches in Action: Gain an understanding of how 5 European projects are integrating health literacy into diverse public health systems including an equity and diversity lens. • Roadmap principles: Highlight the common goals and strategies that these initiatives define to improve health literacy across different contexts at the European level. Speakers/Panellists Cecilia D’Acunto SAFE, Ixelles, Belgium Peder Ringnes Berrefjord The Norwegian Directorate of Health, Oslo, Norway Andrea Guajardo Villar Santé Publique France, Saint-Maurice, France