HELPE Handbook

HELPE HANDBOOK

HEalth Literacy in Physiotherapy Education

Welcome to the HELPE online Handbook

This handbook represents results of the ERASMUS+ funded project “Health Literacy in Physiotherapy Education (HELPE)” (2020-1- AT01-KA203-HE-078086). The project took place from 2020 to 2023 and involved the collaboration of five higher education institutes: FH-Joanneum Graz University of Applied Sciences (Austria), HS Gesundheit Bochum University of Applied Sciences (Germany), School of Health Sciences Blanquerna - Ramón Llull University (Spain), HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht (Netherlands), and JAMK University of Applied Sciences (Finland).

The project’s main objective was to develop health literacy competencies in bachelor physiotherapy students to respond the needs of diverse client groups. Additionally, the project aimed to empower physiotherapy students in understanding their responsibility as patient educators, and to increase the health literacy awareness among students, educational professionals, physiotherapy practitioners, and clients. These aims were accomplished through establishing a shared understanding of health literacy competencies and development of health literacy educational courses.

This handbook provides free access to all developed teaching materials in a comprehensive way. It starts by introducing the competency framework , which serves as a basis for the developed courses. These courses include lectures, communication skills training, modules on Digital Health Literacy, Project Based Learning, Community Based Learning, and Collaboration in interprofessional rehabilitation teams.

Further, the handbook includes tools for assessment and reflection, which can be implemented in various settings in the education of physiotherapy students.

The chapter Transferability aims to facilitate the application of the developed materials from this handbook in other health care studies.

Last update: June 7th 2023