Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy

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Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy

• Fanny Hawkins, Ed.D., RHIA, CPHQ
• Health Information Management Program Director
• Texas Southern University
• College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

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DEFINITION

• General LiteracyAn individuals ability to
  read, write, and speak in English, and compute
  and solve problems at levels of proficiency
  necessary to function on the job and in society,
  to achieve ones goals, and develop ones
  knowledge and potential.National Literacy Act
  1991

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DEFINITION

• Health Literacy
• The degree to which individuals can obtain,
  process, and understand the basic health
  information and services they need to make
  appropriate health decisions.
• -Institute of Medicine report, 2004

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Health Literacy

• Health Literacy Health Literacy is the ability
  to read, understand, and act upon health
  information. Health literacy empowers
  individuals and communities by improving their
  ability to access health information and their
  capacity to use it effectively.
• Health people 2010.

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Health Literacy

• 1993 National Adult Literacy Survey
• NALS Level 1 Inadequate Literacy 21
• Able to
• Sign name
• Find a country in an article
• Total a bank deposit entry
• Cannot consistently
• Understand the gist of an article.
• Use a bus schedule
• Enter information on an application

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• NALS Level 2 Marginal Literacy 27
• Able to
• Find intersection on street map
• Locate information in newspaper article
• Determine difference in price on tickets
• Cannot consistently
• Use a bus schedule
• Identify information from a bar graph
• Write a brief letter of complaint

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Why Health Literacy?

• Understand health instructions
• Prevent medical mistakes
• Prevent being hospitalized excessively
• Have good health outcomes

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• Low Health Literacy Equals Problems With
• Medications
• Appointment Slips
• Informed Consents
• Discharge Instructions
• Health Education Materials
• Insurance Applications

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• Factors that Contribute to Health Literacy
• General literacy
• Level of experience with the health system
• Complexity of information
• Cultural and language factors
• Methods of communication
• Aging

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• The Doctor Says
• You have hypertension. You need to abstain from
  high-sodium foods, and partake in a rigorous
  exercise regimen.

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• What Does That Mean?
• Have you ever been confused by your doctor?
• Have you ever asked a question of your doctor,
  and not understood the answer?
  
• Have you ever not asked a question because you
  were embarrassed or scared?

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• You Have The Right To Understand
• You have the right to understand the health
  information that you hear from your doctor
  
• The doctor works for you!

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• What Can You Do?
• Before going to the doctors office
• While you are at the doctors office
• After you leave the doctors office

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• Before the Visit
• Prepare questions
• Write down your symptoms
• Decide how you will get to your appointment and
  make sure you know where it is
  
• Research -Talk with friends and family

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• During the Visit
• Ask questions (avoid White Coat Amnesia)
• Bring a friend or family member to help you
  understand the doctor

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• During the Visit
• Take notes (or have a friend take notes)
• Ask for a photocopy of any helpful information
  that the doctor has
  
• Ask for a photocopy of any test results
• Keep these results in a file, and bring them
  when you go to a new doctor

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• During the Visit
• Ask the doctor to repeat the information
• More slowly
• With a picture
• In different words

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• After the Visit
• Tell a friend or a family member what
• the doctor told you
• Remember When you can repeat it in your own
  words, you understand it
  
• Do more research
• Talk with the nurse
• Talk with the pharmacist

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• Your Personal Health Information

Why its important, and how to access, manage,
and protect it
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Why Your Personal Health Information Is Important

• The more complete and accurate your health
  information, the better tool you have to help you
  play an active role in your own quality
  healthcare

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Current Challenges

• Multiple healthcare providers
• Multiple medical records
• No linkage of records
• 10 years until system in place

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Consider This

• 25 of Americans think emergency rooms can
  retrieve critical health informationbut almost
  none can
  
• Experts say that up to 10 of the tests that
  doctors order are unnecessary or duplicative
  
• 40 of Americans think doctors keep their medical
  information on a computerbut only 5 of doctors
  do
  
• Source Markle Foundation Report

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Creating Your Own Personal Health Record
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What Is a Personal Health Record (PHR) ?

• It is a collection of important information about
  your health or the health of someone youre
  caring for, such as a parent or child, that you
  actively maintain and update

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Why Should I Keep a PHR?

• Because your health information is scattered
  across many different providers and facilities
  
• Keeping your own complete, updated and easily
  accessible health record means that you can play
  a more active role in your healthcare
  

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Benefits of a PHR

• Patient-held records contain different, more
  rounded information
  
• Promotes teamwork between you and your provider
• Avoids contradictory advice and misunderstanding
• Reduces duplication
• Patients become more involved in monitoring and
  maintaining health status
  
• Prepare for appointments
• Enhance preventive care

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Consider This

• 42 of U.S. adults keep some form of Personal
  Health Record
  
• 84 of those who dont keep a PHR think it would
  be a good idea to do so
  
• Reasons
• Provide doctors with information
• Recall care received
• Access in case of emergency
• Source Harris Interactive

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CONCLUSION