6 Health Literacy Tips For Canadians
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Approximately
60 per cent of Canadian adults are unable to obtain, understand and act upon
health information and services and to make appropriate health decisions on
their own. The majority are seniors, new immigrants and unemployed individuals.
People
with low health literacy are more likely to misunderstand warning
labels and are less likely to be able to identify their own medications,
understand how to take their medications, and recognize the potential side
effects.
Since
1999, Health Literacy Month has been recognized in October. The month aims to
bring attention to the importance of making health information easy to
understand, and making the health care system easier to navigate.
In
celebration of Health Literacy Month, here are six health literacy tips for
Canadians:
➤ Your
local pharmacist is a trusted health care professional: Your pharmacist can do
things like help you quit smoking, offer information and counselling, and give
you advice on how to take your medicine, as well as explain side effects of
medication.
➤ It’s
okay to ask questions: Dealing with medical professionals can be
intimidating. If you don’t understand what your doctor or another health care
professional tells you the first time, it’s okay to ask them to explain it
another way.
➤ Knowing
your medical history is important: Download our free medical history card and fill in details like
what medication you’re taking, and your allergies—both now and in the past.
Having this information with you will help better manage your health when
you’re meeting with health professionals. It is also helpful in case of an
emergency when you may not be able to talk.
➤ Keep
track of your vaccinations: Sometimes we forget what vaccinations or
immunizations we’ve had. There are free apps that can help you log these
details so that you remember which vaccines you’ve had and when. Check out CANImmunize, a
free, bilingual app to track your family’s immunizations on your smartphone and
help you get vaccinated on time.
➤ Brush
up on your rights as a patient: When you use health care services
– at a doctor’s office, at the hospital, at a walk-in clinic, or anywhere else
– you have rights. You also have responsibilities. Find out what they are
before your next medical visit.
➤ Learn
health vocabulary: Compliance, diagnosis, inpatient – the health care
system has some complex words. Check out our handy health literacy glossary to learn definitions of
common health terminology.
For more health literacy resources and information, visit ABCHealthMatters.ca. READ MORE ➤➤
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