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Ukessay on health literacy
Thesis statement for health literacy
Ukessay on health literacy
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What are the ways I can recognize and deal with poor health literacy?
Numerous people have trouble obtaining, processing and understanding the basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decision. Some of the reasons for poor health literacy are cultural beliefs, lack of proper health education in the American school system, lack of awareness, misleading news and political disagreement when it comes to health care, lack of proper communication between health professionals and the patients etc.
As a future health professional, it is required to keep a very close connection with my patients and I feel that it is my responsibility to communicate with the patients in plain language. I can provide the patients with a very accurate, easy to use information about the health issue. I can confirm the patients understand the description about the treatment, medication and other health procedures. As a future health care provider, I can
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According to CBS news more than 12 million Americans were misdiagnosed in 2014 alone and the main reason for these misdiagnosis were poor health literacy and poor medical history. I believe every person should be able to access health care services, analyze the risks and benefits of the treatment, interpret the test results and locate the health information. To improve health literacy in the country, the better health education system should be implemented in our school system. As a member of Student Nurse Association at Sam Houston University, I could bring up the issue of health literacy in our organizational meeting and conduct an awareness program on campus. We could let students know about the benefits of public health classes and encourage them to enroll in one or more health education classes during their time with Sam Houston
Communication is cited as a contributing factor in 70% of healthcare mistakes, leading to many initiatives across the healthcare settings to improve the way healthcare professionals communicate. (Kohn, 2000.)
Communication encompasses a wide range of processes such as the exchange of information, listening, posing of questions (Fleischer et al., 2009) or use of body language. In a healthcare environment where there are constant interactions among nurses, doctors, patients and other health professionals, professional and effective communication is important in ensuring high quality healthcare standards and meeting the individual needs of patients.
The underserved Black Belt Population is only fifty percent of the problem in this equation. However, it is in this community that the learning curve, for health care matters, is the steepest. Health education should be as mandatory as English. Implementing an aggressive health program starting at the fourth grade level and continuing until graduation would create educated young adults. These adults will be aware of the health risks of poor diet choices and sedentary behaviors. And as the program progresses the health education could evolve focusing on matters of chronicity, disease processes, lifestyle protection, sex education, and health care management. This education program could be used in place of elective classes that are chronically required throughout elementary and high
Through contemporary communication, we are educated to deliver exceptional care to our patient in different. As nurse practitioners, we learned how to effectively
When educating our patients it is important to make sure that all education is documented. Documentation of all patient education is important because this will provide legal record for the nurse. It is also important in documentation that this will validate that all standards of care are being met. The Joint Commission will review charts and audit for the proper documentation such as patient education. The result of proper charting will provide reimbursement for the hospital, along with creating a safe environment for the patients. When it comes to the Joint Commission it also brings importance to tactics for patients with low literacy. As part of making care patient-centered, healthy literacy comes into play. When documenting this is an area that nurses have accountability for in order to create a safe learning environment. There is a high rate of medical errors and adverse events related to communication breakdowns, now widely recognized, are also widely acknowledged to be untenable (Edwards). The Joint Commission allows for guidelines to establish patient-centered care in order to create the best outcomes for
“Communication is the heart of nursing… your ability to use your growing knowledge and yourself as an instrument of care and caring and compassion” (Koerner, 2010, as cited in Balzer-Riley, 2012, p. 2). The knowledge base which Koerner is referring to includes important concepts such as communication, assertiveness, responsibility and caring (Balzer-Riley, 2012). Furthermore, communication is complex. It includes communication with patients, patient families, doctors, co-workers, nurse managers and many others. Due to those concepts and the variety of people involved, barriers and issues are present. Knowing how to communicate efficiently can be difficult.
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).
The health care provider should ensure that they communicate effectively with the patient/client.
communicate skills with our patients for a number of reasons – one being their health status even if
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
...using words your patient is used to and will understand. Clarify your message with body language, tone of voice, facial expression touch and gestures.
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.
communicating in a professional manner in order to provide the best standard of care for the
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
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.