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Health literacy means the understanding and common knowledge about health and health related issues. Health literacy is generally studied in terms of knowledge of general public about common health issues, preventive care and management of health conditions through lifestyle and behavioral changes. In this regard, it is important that common people have access to health related material so that they can benefit from the literature in their practical lives (Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), 2010). Doctors and nurses play significant role in promotion of health related material by designing community awareness and educational programs. As a result, it is expected that patients would project better health indicators …show more content…
As a result, they are more vulnerable to developing health issues and prone to showing poor health outcomes. The researchers concluded that there was a consistent correlation among low health literacy and high number of hospitalizations, need of emergency care, lower number of screening for cancers and other epidemics and poorer adherence to medications prescribed by the doctors. In addition to this, with low health literacy rates, patients fail to comprehend the available health literature, health messages and demonstrate overall poorer health status. This further results in high mortality rates, and increased economic and health burden due to comorbidities (Berkman et al., …show more content…
The health literacy involves educating general populations on basic knowledge of common diseases, signs and symptoms, possible causes, preventive care, medications, severity and possible methods of management through lifestyle or behavioral changes. Moreover, the literature is written or verbally delivered in jargon which is understandable for individuals with lowest education level or qualification. The purpose is to disseminate the information to as many individuals as possible. As a result, not only does the preventive care indicators are improved but also contributes to better health outcomes among patients who have acquired a particular health condition. This is due to the fact that patients understand the issue and cooperate with doctors/ physicians in implementing the
pp. 197-205 Singleton, K., & Krause, E. (2009). Understanding cultural and linguistic barriers to health literacy. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 14(3). United Nations.
Conaty-Buck, S. (2009). Unblocking barriers: Clearing the channel to improve communication between practitioners and patients with low health literacy. (Order No. 3364864, University of Virginia). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, , 121. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.uproxy.library.dc-uoit.ca/docview/305011452?accountid=14694. (305011452).
Given the magnitude of health costs, both financial and in terms of human suffering, it is essential that preventive interventions be developed and/or enhanced. Nurses, physicians, and other helping professionals are in a good position, by virtue of their training, to add to such preventive efforts. Health is defined as a condition of physical, mental, and social well being and the absence of disease or other abnormal condition. It is not a static condition; constant change and adaptation to stress result in homeostasis (Mosby's Medical and Nursing Dictionary, 1994 p. 742). The fact that we can improve our health and extend our lives by changing our behaviors (i.e., eating well, exercising, not smoking, and reducing stress) supports the incorporation of health education, and prevention programs into a broad variety of settings.
However, health literacy is more than just read and write; it is the ability to understand and able to use health information to make choices about their health (Benyon, 2014). Low health literacy can have detrimental effect on the health of the client because it may cause misunderstand of the medical label or health information. According to McMurray & Clendon (2015), health literacy divided into three different levels which are functional, interactive/communicative and critical health literacy. As for functional levels, it is the most general and fundamental level for the general public because individuals need to receive and understand the information of health such as risk of health decision, consent forms, health instruction or medicine labels. (McMurray & Clendo , 2015) Turning to the next level, interactive/communicative health literacy, mainly involved personal skills to spread health knowledge to the community, and also , people are able to influence social norm and help others individuals to develop their personal health capacity. Because of this, understanding of how organization work and resounding communication skill which can help to support others and knowing how to get different health services other individuals need (McMurray & Clendo , 2015). The third level is critical health literacy, mainly divided to
Many organizations and healthcare institutions are active members in improving quality of care thru health literacy. The Joint Commission’s Public Policy Initiative begun in 2001, work at safe quality health care thru increased health literacy. Healthy People 2010 report presents safety and health literacy as a goal. recent national action focus on removing barriers.7 This is reinforced by provisions in the Affordable Care Act and the Plain Writing Act. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality(AHRQ) published the Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit, a self-assessment tool to direct quality increase in health literacy in primary care. The toolkit is built on the rules of the universal precautions, to help guide the healthcare professionals to create health materials understandable to the patients. The National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy is a policy document to use to improve health literacy. The policy is founded on two values (1) everyone has the right to health information that helps them make informed decisions and (2) health services should be delivered in ways that are understandable and beneficial to health, longevity, and quality of life (Healthy People 2020). Effective communication is a cornerstone of patient safety (The Joint Commission, 2007, p. 5). Health literacy is a factor in engaging patients in preventive care (The Joint Commission, 2007, p. 28). The Joint Commission’s
By using the healthy people 2020 initiatives as a guide, communities may initiate their own improvement changes to enhance their overall wellbeing. The objectives of this community preventative health improvement plan directly correlate with the nation’s healthy people 2020 initiatives. Healthy People 2020 aims to improve population health by using electronic health to enhance communication strategies (Healthy People 2020, 2015). The nation’s government and health care officials acknowledge the impact that communication, information, and technology have on the population’s everyday life. Therefore, healthy people 2020 aims to utilize information technology to communicate information essential to initiating healthy practices (Healthy People 2020, 2015). Healthy people 2020 guidelines should be utilized when initiating electronic health systems, supporting collaboration between patients and providers and increasing the availability of support
Literacy is the ability to read, write, and speak a written language. Literacy is a vital aspect in society because it helps one advance their own knowledge and potential. One can also advance their own knowledge and potential through health literacy. According to Health.gov, “Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions” (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services). Health Literature is used daily to enrich one’s knowledge about old and new health information in the health community. Health literacy is an important aspect of all publications because it informs people about life-threatening or urgent
Health literacy is a term not widely understood by the general population. It is defined as “the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions and services needed to prevent or treat illness,” (About health literacy, 2014). A person’s level of health literacy is based on their age, education level, socioeconomic standing, and cultural background. Patients with low health literacy have a more difficult time navigating the health care system. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this group of patients may find it harder to find medical services and health care providers, fill out health forms, provide their complete medical history with their providers, seek preventative care, understand the health risks associated with some behaviors, taking care of chronic health conditions, and understanding how to take prescribed medications (About health literacy, 2014). It is to a certain extent the patient’s responsibility to increase their own health literacy knowledge. But to what extent can they learn on their own? Those working in the health field have been trained to navigate the health system and understand the medical terms. They have the knowledge and capability to pass on that understanding to their patients. Health care professionals have a shared responsibility to help improve patients’ health literacy.
Merging multi-literacies in Health and Physical Education could allow students to talk about topics of the genre more successfully and have knowledge of Health and Physical Education terms and language in daily life. According to Nutbeam (2000) interactive health literacy is a term which outlines the individual inspiration to maintain personal health. By teaching skills in the primary years to communicate and cope with health issues and physical activity will assist students in the schools of South Australia to know their personal requirements.
Improving population health necessitates a variety of the contributions from health entities. These health entities can be state, local governments, hospitals, health centers, and community organizations. Unfortunately, these contributions and services are not equally distributed throughout the population. Lack of a supermarket in a neighborhood limits residents’ access to healthy food and other resources. Furthermore, ethnic minority and/or low-income communities are burdened with several health disparities such as greater risk for diseases, or limited access to healthcare services (Jackson, 2014). The National Cancer Institute reported that individuals from medically underserved population are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage diseases because they have inadequate resources to education, or health insurance. When an individual does not have adequate access to healthcare services, healthy disparity grows larger in the overall health of a
The goal of improving health literacy is to empower individuals and community, to ensure that they feel comfortable and confident to make effective decisions by obtaining and understanding the relevant information. Strategies that applied in addressing health literacy should reflect respect, cultural safety, community or individuals’ needs and literacy level. Health professionals should facilitate and build capacity in promoting health literacy to allow the target groups have more control over their health and
In 2012, 29 million patients were diagnosed with diabetes, which account for 9.3% of population.1 Low level of health literacy is observed in diabetic patients with 15- 40% of sampled population. Inadequate health literacy is associated with poorer diabetic knowledge and considered a potential barrier to improving health outcome. Health literacy is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Management of the Diabetes is becoming a national issue because of large number of patients and the rising cost of the treatment.
Health education is one of the most controversial subjects taught in schools throughout the United States. Many people argue that the topics discussed in health classes do not have appropriate content for middle school and high school students to be learning. Despite the controversy surrounding these topics, health education is still an extremely important aspect of the middle school and high school curricula. Children are being exposed to alcohol, tobacco, and various drugs at earlier ages than ever before. Health education is the best vehicle to inform students of the dangers and consequences that are associated with these substances. Health education also allows students to become aware of the changes that will affect their minds and bodies as they continue to mature.
There has been a great deal of attention given by individuals, the media and by the government to Health Education. There is no doubt that a population which is “health literate” is significant for the sake of the “public health as a whole and consequently for public finances”(Tappe 2013) (Younghee 2013). Many countries, including the U.S., have realized just how vital these issues have become. Sadly however, the ability to understand basic health information, with or without health education, as well as access and process the services is only possessed by “50%”of the American public, resulting in the escalation of health care costs as well as poor decision making regarding health care.
Health is a vital component in our everyday life. If it is compromised, everything else goes down with it. Health affects an individual drastically; therefore, it is imperative that we take good care of our bodies in order to maintain normal body functions that can help us go through our normal day-to-day lives without fail. There are many factors that can affect health--one of them is Education. Health education feeds emotions that will motivate us to do a better job at being caretakers of ourselves. It can therefore, be said that health education can encourage people to act on their own personal health.