Question

What are some ways to improve health literacy in the healthcare setting?

Explain each point.

Answer 1

Health literacy is the process by which a person reads and understands health care information by which they can make strong health care decisions and follows instructions for treatment.

Socioeconomic factors like occupation, literacy, level of living affects the health literacy. For example- a person with low socioeconomic background has poor health literacy as compared to a middle class background.

Health literacy can be improved by the following ways

Collecting data and assessing the patient's level of understanding about health condition. The patients should be made aware about all available treatments regarding his disease condition. This should be explained in simple language understandable to patients. The tough medical terms to be avoided. In case, patient is not able to understand due to language barrier, then language interpreters can help with this.

Handouts and pamphlets provided by hospital should include simple language. Health education should be provided in language understandable to the patients. Group role plays and puppet shows play a vital role in health literacy.

Educating the patients and family members to assess the signs and symptoms of emergency medical situations. They should be encouraged to seek medical advice during this time. Teach them about emergency phone numbers. The telemedicine and telenursing facilities details should be provided.

Social media including television provide health information to the general public to improve health. For example- advertisement regarding Pulse polio immunization day will encourage parents of under 5 age children to get 2 drops of polio medicine. The same way, hospital authorities drop a message to parents regarding immunization of their kids. If immunization is delayed, the reminder message is send.