Question

In your own words, briefly define health literacy and describe one variable in literacy that affects patient understanding and adherence to provider advice.

Answer 1

"Health literacy is the degree to which individual have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions."

- Source: Healthy People 2010.

In every developmental stage of healthcare sector, the literacy of the individual about health has significant role to play. The health literacy not only provides basic health information but it also helps the patients to navigate the health care system, actively participate in treatment and decision making, understand the mathematical concepts associated with health care and to share their health history. There are many factors health literacy that effects the patients understanding and adherence to provider advice.

The understanding and adherence to advice are directly linked with each other. Better the understanding better will be adherence.The health literacy depends on factors like

• Communication Skill
• Knowledge
• Culture
• Demands of healthcare and public health system
• Demands of the situation.

Communication is considered to be the most significant factor of health literacy. The communication skill of the lay person and the professional determines how well and deep is the understanding of health topics developed. The communication technique in order to impart literacy about health can be a group discussion, role play, lectures, surveys, questionaires, slide show presentation, statistical datas, use of handouts, charts, posters.In all these modes of communication language is the integral part. Therefore the use of language for communication should be according to the community. The strategies for enhancing communication are:

• The language that is clear and plain is easily understood by the lay person. Use of complicated words, phrases, higher medical terminologies will impart poor understanding of the topic that is been taught. Failure to utilize the local language of the patient will affect the patients understanding and adherence towards provider advice.
• Attitude of helpfulness,caring and respect by all staff is also important to foster a trust and mutual understanding between the patient and health professional. Attitudes based on individual differences will result in noncompliance to the instructions.
• The health literacy should be patient centered. Patient will always wish to know with what he is suffering from and what can be done to manage his health issue.
• To foster a better understanding, repeat the key messages. Many patients who is hard of hearing, may not understand exactly what has been taught or if the pace of communication is too fast then the also the instruction may not be clearly understood.
• Use "teach back" or "show me" back technique to check if the person has clearly understood what has been taught. Its very important to evaluate the understanding of the patients so that the topic which is still unclear can be explained.
• Use of patient friendly education material to enhance interactions. The educational aids should be such which can be easy understood and would provided details knowledge about the topic that has been instructed.

So with proper communication skill a professional can foster a adequate patient understanding and adherence to provider advice.