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Low Health Literacy

Low Health Literacy. Essentials of Cultural Competence in Pharmacy Practice: Chapter 12 Notes Chapter Author: Dr. Jeanne Frenzel. Learning Objectives. Identify ways to assist individuals with low health literacy understand their pharmaceutical care plans.

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Low Health Literacy

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  1. Low Health Literacy Essentials of Cultural Competence in Pharmacy Practice: Chapter 12 Notes Chapter Author: Dr. Jeanne Frenzel

  2. Learning Objectives • Identify ways to assist individuals with low health literacy understand their pharmaceutical care plans. • Define health literacy and the difficulty facing patients with low health literacy. • Identify community strategies that can be used in working with patients with low health literacy.

  3. Relevant Terms • Health literacy: the ability to read, understand, and apply health information. • Functional health literacy: the ability to read basic information and perform the mathematical tasks that are necessary to function in a health care environment. • Issues: many health publications are written at a 12th-16th grade reading level, while many patients have an 8th grade reading level.

  4. Employment and Education • Employment mobility is less common in people with lower literacy and educational levels. • People living in poverty have the highest rates of low literacy. • There is a correlation between lower educational level and a greater number of health complications. Studies show a significant relationship between health literacy and well-being.

  5. Risk Factors • People with low literacy levels are also more likely to use alcohol and tobacco. Use of these products is directly correlated to the cause and progression of disease states. • People in a lower socioeconomic status have significantly higher rates of tobacco use. Possible explanations include higher stress, less social support, and an underestimation of associated risks.

  6. Nutrition • Nutrition management is critical in treatment of chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, or hypertension. • People with low health literacy have more difficulty understanding, treating, and self-managing these chronic disease states. • Dietary information must be developed at reading levels appropriate for the general population. • There are serious consequences when health providers don’t recognize patients with low health literacy, including: • Missed doses • Administration of an incorrect dose • Deviation from the prescribed schedule • Discontinuation of the prescribed medicine

  7. Reflection Questions • How can you help those with low health literacy understand their pharmaceutical care plan? • How will you identify those patients who are likely to struggle in understanding their prescriptions? • What do you see as some of the biggest health risks for those individuals with low health literacy?

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