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What is health literacy?

HEALTH LITERACY Anna Lambertson Kansas Health Consumer Coalition Julie Broski Dykes Library, University of Kansas Medical Center. What is health literacy?.

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What is health literacy?

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  1. HEALTH LITERACYAnna LambertsonKansas Health Consumer CoalitionJulie BroskiDykes Library, University of Kansas Medical Center

  2. What is health literacy? “The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.” ~ Healthy People 2010

  3. What factors affect health literacy? Health literacy is dependent on both individual and system factors: • Reading skills • Communication skills • Information and knowledge • Culture and language • Demands of the system

  4. Readability of Health Information • Over 300 studies show health-related materials far exceed the reading ability of U.S. adults • Increasing number of studies show similar results when looking at the readability of online health information Source: NLM Bibliography—Understanding Health Literacy and Its Barriers (2004). www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/cbm/healthliteracybarriers.html

  5. Health Information and the Internet • 80% of Internet users search for health information • 75% rarely or never check the source and date • 72% express trust in most or all information found online Source: Fox, S. Vital Decisions (2003). Online Health Search (2006). Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project. www.pewinternet.org/PPF/c/5/topics.asp

  6. How is Information Critical to Health Literacy? Health information is key to: • Patient and provider communication • Shared health care decision making • Understanding and following directions • Recognizing when to seek care • Learning and adopting healthy behaviors

  7. Low health literacy is linked to: • Under-utilization of services • Increased medication errors • Poor knowledge about health • Increased hospitalizations • Poor health outcomes • Increased healthcare costs

  8. Health Literacy in the U.S. 77 million adults have basic or below health literacy skills 12% Proficient 53% 13% Below Basic Intermediate Basic 22% Source: The Health Literacy of American Adults. Results from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy. National Center for Education Statistics (2006).http://nces.ed.gov/naal/health.asp

  9. Health Literacy and Healthcare Costs Annual Healthcare Costs of Medicaid Enrollees $10,688 $2,891 (<3rd-grade reading level) (>4th-grade reading level) Source: Weiss, et al (2004). J Am Board Fam Pract.

  10. Impact of Low Health Literacy • Use of preventive services • More likely to skip preventive measures such as mammograms, pap smears, and flu shots • Enter the healthcare system when they are sicker

  11. Poor Disease Management Diabetes Management Need to Know: symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) Need to Do: correct action for hypoglycemic symptoms Low Low Medium Moderate High High Low Low Moderate Medium High High Percent of patients with diabetes correctly answering questions according to literacy level (low, moderate, high) Source: Williams, et al (1998). Arch Int Med.

  12. What are the impacts of low health literacy in your community?

  13. Strategies to Improve Health Literacy • Use “living room” language • Limit information (3-5 key points) • Use easy-to-read print materials • Practice teach-back • Use Information Rx • Address culture and language needs

  14. “Living Room” Language Name more common terms for… • Hypertension • Insomnia • Benign • Hazardous • Disorder • Option • Poultry • Routinely

  15. Kansas Head Start Health literacy of parents with young children is a major priority for Kansas Head Start Made nationally-recognized health literacy training program available to all families Training for over 3,600 families

  16. confidence Kansas Head Start • 82% report increased in their ability to take care of their children's illnesses and injuries • 41% fewer parents went to the doctor or clinic • 29% less went to the emergency room first when their child was sick • Parents lost an average of 24% fewer work days • Children lost 18% fewer school days after parents participated in the training and follow-up coaching

  17. Health Literacy ActivityHealth Information for Drug Addicted Pregnant Women

  18. Health Literacy ActivityHealth Information for Drug Addicted Pregnant WomenHow did we do?Do you like this plan?What are your thoughts?

  19. confidence IN MOMENTS OF CONCERN:A SENSE-MAKING STUDY OF PREGNANT, DRUG-ADDICTED WOMENAND THEIR INFORMATION NEEDS

  20. confidence How does this fit with what we know about Health Literacy?

  21. What is your community or organization doing?

  22. Thank you

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