It includes information on general women’s wellness and breast health, including symptoms and treatment, options for diabetes, asthma, cancers, weight management, smoking cessation, STDs, depression, heart health domestic violence and HIV-AIDS.
It also has a new oral health category called “Healthy Teeth and Gums,” which School of Dentistry faculty helped to write.
“The dental school has developed content for the oral health module of this and future kiosks installed in facilities across Kentucky,” said John Sauk, dean of the School of Dentistry. “Oral health is a factor in overall health. Research shows that many oral and dental associated diseases are related to a variety of systemic diseases and impact a healthy life style. Moreover, untreated dental conditions are a leading cause of missed school days among grade school children.”
The kiosk design is similar to that of an automated bank teller machine. It provides bilingual health information in a way that serves multiple reading abilities for easy comprehension and recollection. The touch-screen technology attracts visitors and allows for the information to be provided in both audio and visual formats.
Each topic is programmed with women’s health stories, preventive measures, suggested follow-up questions to ask a health care provider and encouragement to visit a medical professional. The kiosk also includes a telephone that is programmed to connect the user with immediate assistance or to schedule appointments.
“All too often, women devote endless hours of their time and energy to taking care of their families, friends and loved ones but take zero time for themselves,” said Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Audrey Tayse Haynes. “This kiosk is an easily accessible tool for women to learn about wellness, prevention and most importantly, how to seek treatment for existing health risks. The addition of an oral health component to the kiosks enhances this wellness tool for Kentucky’s women.”