Health Literacy - 1207 Words

Health literacy is a term not widely understood by the general population. It is defined as â€Å"the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions and services needed to prevent or treat illness,† (About health literacy, 2014). A person’s level of health literacy is based on their age, education level, socioeconomic standing, and cultural background. Patients with low health literacy have a more difficult time navigating the health care system. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this group of patients may find it harder to find medical services and health care providers, fill out health forms, provide their†¦show more content†¦Another important step in helping patients with low health literacy is to assess the health care environment that you are working in. Assess how easy it is to access the health care services in the faci lity you work. Information and services should be easily accessible to patients. Try to use large universal symbols in the signs throughout the building (About health literacy, 2014). This could ease navigation through the facility for non-English speaking patients or patients with poor eyesight. An over abundant number of signs with wording on them could be intimidating for patients and cause confusion (What we know, 2009). One of the most important steps for a health professional to take when assisting low health literacy patients is to consider the background of the patient. Every patient has a different background that contributed to their current understanding of health care. Identify the age, socioeconomic standing, language and culture of each patient to assess their level of understanding. When it comes to age, elderly patients are at the highest risk for low health literacy. They have poor hearing, declining cognitive skills, and are sometimes out of date on current medicine. Health care professionals have their own health language (Quick Guide to,Show MoreRelatedHealth Literacy And The Health1603 Words   |  7 Pagesexpectancy, but as a nation we are sicker. In May of 2010 the United States Department of Health and Human Services implemented The National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy in efforts to improve health literacy and the health of the nation. The Center for Disease and Co ntrol defines Health Literacy as the level of which a person can access, communicate, evaluate and understand basic health information. Health Literacy can range from knowledge about preventative care, treatment and awareness of allRead MoreUnderstanding Literacy, And Health Literacy1665 Words   |  7 PagesUnderstanding Literacy, and Health Literacy An understanding of literacy, and health literacy is crucial to understand their impact on client health outcomes. Further, a nurse’s ability to better educate clients lies in his or her understanding of these terms. Literacy is a multilayered, dynamic and complex topic; however, in short literacy is a set of skills including reading, writing oral skills, numeracy skills, and skills that enable us to acquire knowledge and information (Keefe CopelandRead MoreUnderstanding Literacy, And Health Literacy1663 Words   |  7 PagesAn understanding of literacy, and health literacy is crucial to understand their impact on client health outcomes. Further, a nurse’s ability to better educate clients lies in his or her understanding of these terms. Literacy is a multilayered, dynamic and complex topic; however, in short literacy is a set of skills including reading, writing oral skills, numeracy skills, and skills that enable us to acquire knowledge and information (Keefe Cop eland, 2011). Literacy can be understood throughRead MoreEssay on Impact of Health Literacy on Health1193 Words   |  5 Pages Health literacy is defined as The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions (Michael K. Paasche-Orlow, 2010), the word Health literacy first appeared in 1974 in a paper which calls for â€Å"education standards for all grade school levels in USA† (Carolyn Speros, 2004) . Some recent works suggest that there is a relation between literacy, low health and premature deaths (ChristinaRead MoreHealth Literacy And Health Care2161 Words   |  9 PagesHealth literacy as defined in Cromier Kotrlik article â€Å"the ability to read, understand, and use health information to make appropriate health care decisions and follow instructions for treatment† (Cromier 2007). It is a problem that affects an estimated 47 million people in the US alone and costs an estimated 73 billion dollars a year. These costs come from increased hospitalizations, the use of less pr eventative medicine, as well as, the social stigma that comes with having poor health literacyRead MoreThe Influence Of Patient Health Literacy On Positive Health Outcomes1274 Words   |  6 Pages The Influence of Patient Health Literacy on Positive Health Outcomes Introduction With an increase in the number of new prescriptions hitting the market and the growing number of patients taking prescription medications, patient health literacy becomes a rising problem. Approximately ninety percent of Americans currently take prescription or over-the-counter medications; however, patients that have an inadequate health literacy level are more likely misinterpret or suffer adverse drug effectsRead MoreEssay on Health Literacy776 Words   |  4 PagesHealth Literacy Health illiteracy has become referred to as the silent epidemic. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website, the National Assessment of Adult Literacy showed only 12 percent of adults have proficient health literacy. That means nine out of ten adults may lack the needed skills to adequately manage their health and prevent disease. Healthy People 2010 define health literacy as â€Å"the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understandRead MoreHealth Literacy And Its Effect On Health1501 Words   |  7 Pages Literacy is the ability someone has to read and write. Most of us are taught this skill when we are young. Those of us who learn this during childhood seem to forget this is a privilege not everybody has. The people who do not has this advantage are affected in more ways than we think. Especially when it comes to their health, this understanding is known as health literacy. â€Å"Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health informationRead MoreHealth Literacy And Patient Safety836 Words   |  4 Pages Health Literacy and Patient Safety What if every other person that received help from a healthcare provider left the health facility and did not comply with anything the provider told them? The patient did not take the medication as directed, if at all, did not follow-up in 2 weeks to ensure adequate treatment and never improved, or did not care for their surgical wound, leading them to being hospitalized for sepsis. What is the point in going to seek help, if the patient is not going to do whatRead MoreThe Importance Of Identifying And Adapting Health Literacy967 Words   |  4 PagesPatient Health Literacy in Effective Workplace Communication Name: Georgia Pearson Student Number: n9994769 Course Code Name: PYB007 Communication for Healthcare Professionals Tutor: Michael Rowlands Tutorial: Wednesday, 1500 – 1700, N518 Word Count: Date: 10/04/2017 Queensland University of Technology The Importance of Identifying and Adapting to Patient Health Literacy in Effective Workplace Communication Effective communication plays an integral role in the workplace of health professionals