Health literacy is the ability to get and use knowledge and information to keep and improve health in a way that works for the individual and the system as a whole. How well people can access, absorb, and comprehend basic health information and services, and how well they can use that knowledge are measures of health literacy.
Personal health literacy is how well a person can find and use information and services to help them make decisions and take action on their own and other people’s health.
Organizational health literacy is the extent to which organizations assist people in locating, comprehending, and using information and services to guide health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.
According to the CDC:
“From a public health perspective, the organizational definition acknowledges that health literacy is connected to health equity. Health equity is the attainment of the highest level of health for all people. We will achieve health equity when everyone has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.”
There are several ways to improve health literacy:
- Doctor-patient relationship:
The patient and the health professional should both attempt to interact better with one another. To gauge the patient’s comprehension, doctors should aim to ask open-ended questions. It is best to use language that the patient can understand as opposed to medical jargon. Nonetheless, to gain a better understanding, the patient should make an effort to ask as many questions as they can.
- Straightforward language:
Medication should be easy to read and understand. If a prescription contains any medical jargon, it should be clarified. Hospitals should give their patients information that is clear, brief, and easy to grasp on forms and health education materials. Use plain, everyday, straightforward language to reduce the possibility of misunderstanding.
- Engage patients as partners:
Health-literate organizations must be built and improved with input from patients and carers. Health-literate care systems involve patients in their care and support them as participants in quality improvement.
- Visual assistance:
Patients can better understand their health problems with the help of pictures, graphs, and educational videos. Patients remember more information if they have good visual memories.
- Mobile applications:
Several mobile applications offer fundamental knowledge on diseases that may be useful. Through these mobile applications, a patient and doctor can communicate, and medical professionals can quickly address patient inquiries.
- Shared decision-making:
Patients who receive health-literate care participate in making healthcare decisions. It transforms healthcare into a joint effort between professionals and patients, fusing best practices with reliable science and patient preferences.
- Regular health literacy programs:
Health literacy programs should be put together by bringing together health educators who are certified and knowledgeable. They can teach people about health issues through schools, colleges, and community groups. The main goal is to reach everyone and make them aware of health issues and give them information about them.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, health literacy abilities are crucial for people’s health and wellness. Health literacy skills are necessary for the ability to make informed health decisions. People will be encouraged to participate effectively and make educated health decisions for better health outcomes if appropriate communication tactics and teaching methods are used.
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This article was written by HAMZA ATHAR, an MBBS( bachelor of medicine, bachelor of surgery) student at QUAID-E-AZAM medical college, Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
REFERENCES:
Hamlin, Kristin. “The Nurse’s Guide to Health Literacy.” NurseJournal, 15 Nov. 2022, nursejournal.org/resources/the-nurses-guide-to-health-literacy/.
“What Is Health Literacy?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11 July 2023, www.cdc.gov/healthliteracy/learn/index.html.
“Resources for Implementation.” Implementation – Health Literate Care Model, health.gov/our-work/national-health-initiatives/health-literacy/health-literate-care-model/resources-implementation.
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