what is health literacy?
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HEALTH LITERACY Anna Lambertson Kansas Health Consumer Coalition Julie Broski Dykes Library, University of Kansas Medical Center. What is health literacy?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
HEALTH LITERACY
Anna LambertsonKansas Health Consumer Coalition
Julie BroskiDykes Library, University of Kansas Medical Center
“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
What is health literacy?
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
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
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
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
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
Health Literacy in the U.S.
Intermediate
Basic
Below Basic
Proficient
13%
12%
53%
22%
77 million adults have basic or below health literacy skills
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
Health Literacy and Healthcare Costs
$0
$2,000
$4,000
$6,000
$8,000
$10,000
$12,000
Low-literacy Better literacy
$2,891
$10,688
Annual Healthcare Costs of Medicaid Enrollees
Source: Weiss, et al (2004). J Am Board Fam Pract.
(<3rd-grade reading level) (>4th-grade reading level)
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
Percent of patients with diabetes correctly answering questions according to literacy level (low, moderate, high)
ModerateHigh
Poor Disease Management Diabetes Management
Low
LowModerat
e High
Source: Williams, et al (1998). Arch Int Med.
0 20 40 60 80 100
Need to Know: symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Need to Do: correct action for hypoglycemic symptoms
Low
Medium
High
Low
Medium
High
What are the impacts of low health literacy in your community?
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
“Living Room” LanguageName more common terms for…
• Hypertension• Insomnia• Benign• Hazardous• Disorder • Option • Poultry• Routinely
Health literacy of parents with youngchildren is a major priority for KansasHead Start
Made nationally-recognized healthliteracy training program available to all families
Training for over 3,600 families
Kansas Head Start
confidence
• 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
Kansas Head Start
Health Literacy Activity
Health Information for Drug Addicted Pregnant Women
Health Literacy Activity
Health Information for Drug Addicted Pregnant Women
How did we do?Do you like this plan?
What are your thoughts?
confidence
IN MOMENTS OF CONCERN: A SENSE-MAKING STUDY OF PREGNANT,
DRUG-ADDICTED WOMEN AND THEIR INFORMATION NEEDS
confidence
How does this fit with what we know about Health Literacy?
What is your community or organization doing?
Thank you