Question

This week as we continue our discussion on health promotion we will begin to look at health literacy. Health literacy affects everyone we treat. When thinking of health literacy and your current practice or experiences based on the readings and content this week answer the following prompts:

1. Describe an issue where health literacy posed a problem in your practice or experiences-describe this in paragraph format.
2. Provide and describe two evidence-based strategies that can be used to improve a patient's understanding of what "health literacy" is. Support this response with a scholarly source with intext citations and APA formatted reference.

Answer 1

62-year-old, Spanish-speaking woman who was newly insured under the ACA and was seeking care at the university-affiliated medical center after a recent heart attack. Using a phone interpreter, her young, earnest, and wonderful physician begins to tell her about the merits and drawbacks of combined anti-coagulation therapy using clopidogrel and aspirin, emphasizing the higher percentage bleed with combination therapy over single-agent treatment on the one hand, and the better protection conferred by combination therapy and low chance in absolute numbers of a major bleed on the other hand. After 4 minutes, he finishes by asking her which drug she wishes to take. Thoroughly confused, the patient looks at him and says, “Si?”

HEALTH LITERACY

Health literacy is defined as “the degree to which an individual has the capacity to obtain, communicate, process, and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions.”

STRATEGIES

Using a few simple strategies, you can improve your patients’ health literacy skills by providing health information that is accessible, clear and actionable:

1.Use Plain Language

An important strategy for improving health literacy is to use plain language in both verbal and written communications. According to plainlanguage.gov, plain language should ensure that users can find what they need, understand what they find, and use what they find to meet their needs.

Key elements of plain language include:

Organizing information so the most important points come first

Breaking complex information into understandable chunks

Using simple language and defining technical or medical terms

Using the active voice

2.Use Visual Aids

Visual aids, such as simple illustrations, images, informational graphics and videos, can help patients better understand health information. They can be excellent tools for reinforcing written or verbal health communication. This is especially important since health information that is provided in a stressful or unfamiliar situation is less likely to be retained.

It is important to choose meaningful visuals that are culturally sensitive, linguistically appropriate, are clearly labeled and captioned, and support your message.

3.Recommend and Use Technology

Making use of available technologies, such as patient portals, telemedicine solutions, and mobile applications can help you connect more effectively with your patients and may ultimately contribute to improved health literacy levels:

Patient portals can give access critical health information, such as test results and treatment instructions.

Telemedicine can be used to assess and treat underserved patient populations, such as those with limited mobility or who live in rural areas.

Mobile apps offer patients multiple options for learning about or managing health issues. Smartphone apps can collect personal health data to be shared with physicians, provide general health information, and assist with preventive lifestyle strategies.

4.patients better understand health information:

Ask open-ended questions to assess a patient’s understanding of written materials, including prescription labels.

Use the Teach Back communication method to determine if a patient has understood your instructions and can repeat the information in their own words.

Use “Show Back” when teaching a patient to use a device or perform a task, to demonstrate correct use.

Speak more slowly when providing instructions, with an emphasis on being respectful and clear without being patronizing.

Some of the challenges related to improving communication with patients having low health literacy involve allowing nurses and other healthcare providers more time to interact with patients. In addition, just raising awareness of the issues by incorporating health literacy content into the nursing and medical school programs and continuing education offerings is a step in the right direction (Barrett & Sheen Puryear, 2006; Williams, Davis, Parker, & Weiss, 2002)

Citation: Egbert, N., Nanna, K., (Sept. 30, 2009) "Health Literacy: Challenges and Strategies" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in NursingVol. 14, No. 3, Manuscript 1.