The Impact of Language and Information Presentation on Health Literacy in College Students
Honors Capstone Project
1
Advisor(s)
Dr. Karen Kier, Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Ohio Northern University
Confirmation
1
Document Type
Paper
Location
ONU McIntosh Center; Wishing Well
Start Date
21-4-2026 3:00 PM
End Date
21-4-2026 3:15 PM
Abstract
Health literacy is the ability of individuals to obtain, understand, and use health information to make informed decisions about their care. According to the Center for Health Care Strategies, 9 out of 10 United States adults struggle with limited health literacy. Seventy-five million adults have basic or below-basic health literacy, which has a significant impact on their overall health outcomes. The impact on quality of life and the expense to the health care system can be extensive with low health literacy rates. Research in the area of health literacy can help improve our understanding and create more meaningful educational materials. This project evaluated how different design elements of educational infographics influence comprehension and perceived clarity among college students and was approved by the ONU Institutional Review Board. The first trial focused on cardiovascular health topics and compared infographics that varied in language complexity to determine how readability impacts understanding. The second trial focused on mental health topics and compared infographics that differed in presentation and organization. In both trials, participants completed knowledge-based quizzes and perception surveys to assess comprehension as the primary outcome variable. By analyzing differences in performance and feedback across infographic styles, this study aimed to identify strategies for optimizing health education materials and improving health literacy.
Recommended Citation
Hoang, Andrew, "The Impact of Language and Information Presentation on Health Literacy in College Students" (2026). ONU Student Research Colloquium. 15.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/student_research_colloquium/2026/Papers/15
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Available to ONU community via local IP address and ONU login.
The Impact of Language and Information Presentation on Health Literacy in College Students
ONU McIntosh Center; Wishing Well
Health literacy is the ability of individuals to obtain, understand, and use health information to make informed decisions about their care. According to the Center for Health Care Strategies, 9 out of 10 United States adults struggle with limited health literacy. Seventy-five million adults have basic or below-basic health literacy, which has a significant impact on their overall health outcomes. The impact on quality of life and the expense to the health care system can be extensive with low health literacy rates. Research in the area of health literacy can help improve our understanding and create more meaningful educational materials. This project evaluated how different design elements of educational infographics influence comprehension and perceived clarity among college students and was approved by the ONU Institutional Review Board. The first trial focused on cardiovascular health topics and compared infographics that varied in language complexity to determine how readability impacts understanding. The second trial focused on mental health topics and compared infographics that differed in presentation and organization. In both trials, participants completed knowledge-based quizzes and perception surveys to assess comprehension as the primary outcome variable. By analyzing differences in performance and feedback across infographic styles, this study aimed to identify strategies for optimizing health education materials and improving health literacy.