Title: Health and Literacy Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society: Omicron Alpha Chapter Octob
1Health and LiteracySigma Theta Tau
International Nursing Honor Society Omicron
Alpha ChapterOctober 2, 2008
- Marsha L. Tait, National Coalition for Literacy
- Donna Valerino, Literacy Volunteers of Greater
Syracuse
2Presentation Highlights
- The Scope of Adult Literacy Globally and in the
US - The 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy
- The NAAL Health Literacy Report
- Tips and Techniques for Health Care Providers
- Resources
3Why Should You Care?
- Poor Health Outcomes
- Poor Health Knowledge
- Less Frequent Screening and Preventive Care
- Increased Use of Emergency Rooms
- Increased Hospitalization
- Higher Rates of Disease and Mortality
Baker et al, 1997
4Global Adult Literacy
- The UN defines illiteracy as having no reading
and writing skills at all - UNESCO estimates more than 770 million adults are
illiterate - Two-thirds of illiterate adults are women
- UN Decade of Literacy Cut illiteracy in half by
2015
5- The 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy
(NAAL) was the first examination of the literacy
skills of Americas adults in more than a decade - A nationally representative household survey of
more than 19,000 adults, including adults in
prison
6Patient Interviews
7NAAL What is Adult Literacy in the US?
Definition using printed and written information
to function in society, to achieve goals, and to
develop knowledge and potential.
82003 NAAL Key Findings
- 11 million adults are Non-literate in English
- 30 million adults have Below Basic Literacy
skills - 63 million adults have Basic Literacy skills
9Special NAAL Report Health Literacy
Definition The degree to which individuals have
the capacity to obtain, process, and understand
basic health literacy information and services
needed to make appropriate health decisions.
?
10AMA Definition of Health Literacy
Definition the ability to read and comprehend
prescription bottles, appointment slips and other
essential health-related materials required to
successfully function as a patient.
11Health Literacy Skills
12Health Literacy by Gender
- More men (16) than women (12) had Below Basic
or Basic Literacy Skills - Less men (51) than women (55) had Intermediate
literacy skills - Men had lower average health literacy scores
(242) than women (248)
13Health Literacy Skills of Older Americans
- Adults aged 65 had the lowest average health
literacy scores - More Americans aged 65 had Below Basic or Basic
Skills than any other age group (29 30) - Adults with Medicare and Medicaid or no health
insurance had the lowest average health literacy
scores
14Health Condition Self-Assessment
15Characteristics of Population with Low Health
Literacy
16Source of Health Information
- A higher percent of adults with Below Basic or
Basic literacy skills cited radio and television
as their primary source of health information.
17Information from Professionals
18Information From People
19Information From Print
20Information From The Net
21Information From The Airwaves
22Factors Affecting Patient Provider Communication
- Additional factors that may hinder understanding
- Intimidation, fear, vulnerability
- Shock upon hearing a diagnosis
- Extenuating stress within the patient's family
- Multiple health conditions to understand and treat
23- Make Effective Communications an Organizational
Priority - Address Patients Communication Needs Across the
Continuum of Care - Pursue Policy Changes that Promote Improved
Provider-Patient Communications
24What Can You Do?
- Train your staff to
- Create a safe environment where patients feel
comfortable talking openly with you - Use plain language instead of technical language
or medical jargon - Sit down (instead of standing) to achieve eye
level with your patient - Use visual models to illustrate a procedure or
condition - Ask patients to "teach back" the care
instructions you give to them
From Askme3.org
253
3
3
- What is my main problem?
- What do I need to do?
- Why is it important for me to do this?
26Signage
27Simplify, Simplify, Simplify!
- Refer to helpful and appropriate sources of
information - A widely used analgesic, antipyretic, and
anti-inflammatory agent also used as an
antiplatelet agent...
www.webmd.com
28Avoid Jargon
- Hypertension vs High Blood Pressure
- Fatigued vs Tired
- Acetaminophen vs Tylenol
- Febrile vs Feverish
- Myopathy vs Muscle Aches
29Become An Advocate!
- Americans spend more money on premium label
ice cream each year than on adult basic education
and literacy programs!
30Partner with
31Health Literacy Resources
- www.askme3.org
- www.cdc.gov/az/a.html
- www.healthliteracy.worlded.org/index
- www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/
- www.jointcommission.org
- www.lvgs.org
- www.national-coalition-literacy.org
- www.proliteracy.org
- www.rwjf.org
32New!
- Medicare officials unveiled a new tool kit last
week that can help adult educators teach the
nearly 88,000 participants in adult education
programs who are 60 or older about the benefits
of Medicare. The tool kit includes materials
describing Medicare as well as material for
caregivers for persons eligible for Medicare. The
materials, developed with input from OVAE, are
available online at Medicares new Web site by
clicking on Ask Medicare. Information in Spanish
also is available on the site.
www.medicare.gov
33Clear Communication
- What is clear to you is clear to you. Every
patient should be a full partner in his or her
medical decisions. This requires crystal-clear
communication that is done with compassion and
mutual respect.
Toni Cordell, former adult literacy student
and health literacy advocate
34And Remember
35mltait_at_maxwell.syr.edu
Thank You!