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Three simple steps to health literacy The Asthma Foundation: New Zealand Respiratory Conference 2013. Susan Reid 20 September 2013 . Health literacy definitions. Good health literacy means people:
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Three simple steps to health literacyThe Asthma Foundation:New Zealand Respiratory Conference 2013 Susan Reid 20 September 2013
Health literacy definitions Good health literacy means people: “have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services in order to make informed and appropriate health decisions” Kōrero Mārama, 2010 Health literacy is an interaction between the skills of individuals and the demands of the health system http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/korero-marama-health-literacy-maori-feb2010
NZ health literacy statistics • More than 56.2% of adult New Zealanders (1,626,000 adults) have low levels of health literacy • Low levels are a result of unfamiliarity and complexity of health information • Most people with low skills are Pākeha and employed and unaware they have low health literacy • Particular issues for Māori, Pacific peoples, non English speakers, rural, younger, older & unemployed
Evolution of health literacy Service delivery improvement (health professionals) Patients System enhancement
You can’t tell by looking so use a Universal Precautions approach • As a starting point treat everyone as if they might have low health literacy. • Adjust your starting point depending on what the person knows. 5
What we often observe 1.Assume 2. Tell 3.Assume
Step 1: Find out what people know Schema Theory Everyone relates new knowledge to what they already know or have experienced Content schema knowledge of the world
Step 2: Build health literacy skills and knowledge • Link it to what the person already knows (schema) • Give information in logical steps • Give information in manageable chunks • Ask questions • Explain technical words • Use actual equipment • Use written materials • Help consumers anticipate next steps • Medicine reviews • Reinforce and emphasise
Step 3: Check you were clear • Use Teach-back where you, the health professional, take responsibility for checking you have been clear. • Not a test for consumer, but about how well you communicated. • Check understanding and, if necessary, re-explain using different language. 11
Teach-back: a suggested script “We have gone over a lot today so to make sure I have been clear please tell me how you are going to take this new medicine ... and I will listen to make sure I have been clear.”