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Peer Review

Wisconsin Health Literacy

Reviewed:

Jan 6, 2026 by Health Sciences
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Ratings

Overall Rating: 4.8 stars
Content Quality: 4.8 stars
Effectiveness: 4.8 stars
Ease of Use: 4.8 stars
Overview:

Wisconsin Health Literacy (WHL) is a division of  Wisconsin Literacy, Inc., a non-profit coalition of over 75 community-based literacy programs throughout the state. WHL works with both community-based organizations and healthcare organizations so that every person is able to find, understand, and use health information and services. The website links to many healty literacy resources, services and programs.

Type of Material:

Collection

Recommended Uses:

  • As a supplement to in-class work, as a resource, and as a self-paced site.
  • It can be incorporated into training sessions for healthcare professionals to improve their ability to support patients in understanding and using health information effectively.
  • The resource can support public outreach efforts to raise awareness about the importance of health literacy within various communities.
Technical Requirements:

  • Internet Access
  • Web Browser
Identify Major Learning Goals:

After viewing the website, learners will

  • Describe community outreach and educational programs 
  • Create easy-to-understand resources 
  • Explain how to partner with community members 
  • Show how systems change to standardize health literacy best practices
  • Enhance personal health literacy to empower users to make informed health-related decisions and take appropriate actions.
Target Student Population:

  • The target audience includes community members, healthcare providers, and organizations aiming to promote health equity and ensure accessible, comprehensible health resources.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

  • Prerequisites for users include a basic understanding of health concepts, though the site is designed to be accessible to users with varying levels of health literacy. The goal is to foster better health outcomes by bridging gaps in knowledge and understanding.
  • Basic computer skills

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The content provides accurate, up-to-date definitions of health literacy that align with recognized frameworks such as Healthy People.
  • The material is in an easy-to-navigate online format.
  • The site emphasizes promoting health equity, ensuring that all individuals have the skills and opportunities to be healthy.
  • The information is important for all nurses and healthcare professionals to consider.
  • The content is current and relevant to a wide range of users, including community members, healthcare providers, and organizations, and is flexible for different literacy levels.
Concerns:

  • The distinction between personal and organizational health literacy might not be fully clear to all users, leading to potential confusion.
  • The content could benefit from more real-world examples or case studies to illustrate the concepts and enhance understanding.
  • Some users may find the material overwhelming without additional customization or simplification, especially those with limited health literacy.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The material clearly identifies its purpose of improving health literacy and promoting health equity, making the learning objectives easy to understand.
  • It covers both personal and organizational health literacy, providing a well-rounded approach to the topic.
  • The site offers additional resources, such as newsletters and workshops, to support ongoing learning and application of health literacy concepts.
  • The content can be used in a variety of settings, including self-paced learning, community workshops, and healthcare provider training, increasing its potential for wide use.
Concerns:

The material could benefit from more interactive elements, such as quizzes or case studies, to actively engage learners and reinforce understanding.

Some users with lower health literacy might find the content challenging without additional simplification or guidance.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The text is selectable, allowing users to easily copy and reference key information.
  • Sequential headings are used.
  • All links are functional, ensuring seamless access to additional resources and information.
  • The site has a well-organized and intuitive layout that is easy to navigate.
  • The navigation is straightforward, making it simple for users to find relevant information and resources.
Concerns:

  • Some images include alt text, but others show the following under inspection: "Element has empty alt text.
  • Adding alt text for all images would improve accessibility."
Other Issues and Comments:

  • There is no information provided about how user data is handled, which is essential for ensuring privacy and security. If the site collects any data (e.g., email addresses for newsletters), clear privacy policies should be outlined to assure users that their information is protected. If the site does not collect data, it should include a statement to that effect.
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