Health Literacy Month :: What is Health Literacy and Why is it Important?

What is health literacy and why is it important?

AJ Constitution: 9.08.2017 by Nancy Badertscher

Health Literacy Month

What is health literacy?

It’s widely defined as the ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions. People with strong literacy skills can face health literacy challenges, if:

• They are not familiar with medical terms or how their bodies work.

• They have to interpret numbers or risks to make a health care decision.

• They are diagnosed with a serious illness and are scared or confused.

• They have complex conditions that require complicated self-care.

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

CHART/BOX TEXT AND “CHEAT SHEET”

Tips for improving your health literacy

Ask questions (see specific suggestions at bottom.) Then check to be sure you receive and understand the answers. If you don’t understand, don’t be intimidated and don’t worry about asking the doctor or nurse for more information.

Repeat information back to the doctor or nurse. (Some people say this is key to finding out on both sides whether there’s a breakdown in communication.) After your doctor or nurse gives you directions, repeat those instructions in your own words. Simply say:”Let me see if I understand this.” This gives you a chance to clarify information. Studies show that doctors and patients often have very different ideas of what the patient is going to do after leaving the doctor’s office. 

Repeating back what you heard or think you heard can help you avoid potentially serious mistakes.

• Bring all your medicines to your next doctor’s visit. Ask your doctor to go over all of your drugs and supplements, including vitamins and herbal medicines. More than one third of adults struggle to understand how to take their medicines. You may discover some mistakes, such as two drugs that shouldn’t be taken together.

• Have another adult with you. This might be especially critical when you expect to receive important information.

• Let the doctor’s office know you need an interpreter if you don’t speak or understand English very well. You have a right to an interpreter at no cost to you. Even if you speak some English, tell the doctor’s office what language you prefer when you make an appointment.

• Make a Pill Card. Create an easy-to-use Pill Card to help patients, parents, and others keep track of medicines.

Here’s a cheat sheet of questions tailor-made for whatever the specifics you face. Be bold: clip it out and put a check by each question to which you’ve been given an understandable and satisfactory response. Don’t be afraid to circle back for further clarification.

Appointment Type: To talk about surgery

Why do I need surgery?

Is there some other way to treat my condition?

What kind of surgery do I need?

Have you done this surgery before?

Which hospital is best for this surgery?

Will I need anesthesia?

How long will it take me to recover?

How long will I be in the hospital?

What will happen after the surgery?

What will happen if I wait or don’t have this surgery?

Appointment Type: To talk about a health problem

What is my diagnosis?

Will I need any more tests?

What are my treatment options?

How soon do I need to make a decision about treatment?

How much does this treatment cost?

Are there any side effects?

What happens if I choose to not have treatment?

What is the outlook for my future (prognosis)?

Will I need special help at home?

Appointment Type: To receive or change a medicine

What is the name of the medicine?

What is the medicine for?

Can I take a generic?

When should I take it?

How much should I take?

How long do I need to take the medicine?

Are there side effects?

Do I need to avoid any food, drinks, or activities?

What should I do if I forget to take my medicine?

What should I do if I accidentally take more than the recommended dose?

Should I get a refill?

Should I stop taking any of my other medicines or vitamins?

Is there written information I can have?

Appointment Type: To get medical tests

What is the test for?

How is the test done?

How accurate is the test?

Is this test the only way to find out that information?

What do I need to do to prepare for the test?

When will I get the results?

What will the results tell me?

What’s the next step after the test?

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