Group items tagged

Parker and Ratzan discuss what health literacy is, the importance of having health literacy skills, and the need for a strategy to address limited health literacy. The degree to which individuals are able to understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions require a health information strategy that addresses the problems of low health literacy. Low health literacy is prevalent because current health information is somewhat complex. Parker and Ratzan present a clear definition of health literacy and why a strategy is important for better communication.

This report discusses the affects low health literacy has on a person's health status and why health literacy is important to overall health. Low health literacy affects a person's health status more than any other factor, including education, income, and employment or race. Because people with limited health literacy don't tend to seek preventative care and are less likely to follow prescribed treatments, health is compromised and the possibility of a hospital stay is more likely. The report aptly describes the reasons why health literacy is important.

Nutbeam describes the importance of improving access to health information and the capacity to use it effectively as a public health goal. Because strategies include more personal forms of communication and community-based educational outreach, a reduction in low health literacy would be possible and the end goal would result in individuals being more involved in their health care decisions. This would empower them. Nutbeam makes a reasonable point for health literacy as a public health goal as a means for reducing low health literacy.

Wilder discusses how the communication problems with health professional can negatively impact the outcome of medical care for patients with low health literacy skills. Because of the way health information is presented by clinicians, patients have trouble comprehending what is said. Because patients are expected to play an active role in their own medical care and treatment, it is necessary that health information be given in ways that patients and families can understand. Low literacy gets in the way of good health care and leads to more health problems in patients. Wilder makes a good case for the importance of good communication techniques in health matters.

The Report discusses how nearly half of all American adults have difficulty understanding and using health information. Many patients do not always understand health information, so they get less preventative health care and use expensive health services such as emergency care more frequently. By incorporating health knowledge into the existing curricula of kindergarten through 12th grades classes, as well as into adult education community programs, confusion in health literacy can be eliminated. The IOM makes valid points and suggestions for ending the confusion with health literacy.

The authors discuss the serious consequences of low health literacy for individual health and the added demands it places on the health care system. Problems resulting from low literacy cause increased health complications and increased hospitalization for patients. Because of the inability for patients to understand medical instructions and directives by health professionals, many patients experience more health problems which lead to additional health care expenditures, translating to billions of dollars for the nation. The authors make important points, but much research is based on studies from a single public hospital. However, the facts presented provide valid information.

Vernon, lead author of this report, and fellow colleagues, discuss the economic inefficiency in the U.S. healthcare system caused by low health literacy. Annual costs to the U.S. economy are in the billion dollar range. The report shows that low health literacy is associated with lack of stable coverage and reliable health care access, a national health reform to improve health literacy would result in major savings as well as better health care. Vernon and associates make valid points to the cost of low health literacy to the economy.

Health literacy is basic reading and numerical skills that allow a person to function in the health care environment. Even though most adults read at an eighth-grade level, and 20 percent of the population reads at or below a fifth-grade level, most health care materials are written at a 10th-grade level. Older patients are particularly affected because their reading and comprehension abilities are influenced by their cognition and their vision and hearing status. Inadequate health literacy can result in difficulty accessing health care, following instructions from a physician, and taking medication properly. Patients with inadequate health literacy are more likely to be hospitalized than patients with adequate skills. Patients understand medical information better when spoken to slowly, simple words are used, and a restricted amount of information is presented. For optimal comprehension and compliance, patient education material should be written at a sixth-grade or lower reading level, preferably including pictures and illustrations. All patients prefer reading medical information written in clear and concise language. Physicians should be alert to this problem because most patients are unwilling to admit that they have literacy problems. (Am Fam Physician 2005;72:463-8. Copyright© 2005 American Academy of Family Physicians.)

Wanjek discusses how low health literacy negatively affects the nation. Health complications and possible death are the most deleterious problems affecting people with low health literacy. Unnecessary spending by the health industry is another problem causing inpatient spending to increase by approximately $1000. Because of the effects of low literacy, the nation's health is compromised and the cost of healthcare thus escalates to billions of dollars annually. Wanjek makes intriguing points, but most of his information is taken from another study.

Bryan discusses how practical steps that healthcare providers and executives can implement to enable health literate communities can provide several solutions to solve the health literacy crisis. A team effort, use of standardized communication tools, plain language, and educational materials are suggested. Because the health care providers are instrumental in reducing low health literacy, policies that include solutions that are easy to implement to enable health literate communities are necessary. Bryan makes useful suggestions for providers and policy makers which seems plausible.

Weiss discusses the scope of the health literacy problem, the barriers faced by patients with low literacy, and methods to foster verbal and written communication in low literacy patients. Low literacy is pervasive in the U.S. and causes an unnecessary financial and health burden. Because of the complicated health literature, most patients have inadequate understanding of what is said, and simple strategies can alleviate low health literacy problems. Weiss makes interesting and provocative points, but much of his observations are based on his medical practice.

This article presents the American College Health Association National Health Assessment (ACHA - NCHA). It describes the process of collecting information to complete this survey. It also explains the importance of the study's results in understanding the health needs of different colleges. Moreover, the ACHA - NCHA is also concerned with drinking issues among college students. This article provides excellent statistics and gives ideas for coming up with one's own survey questions.

The report discusses how the complexity of medical information affects the health of the patient. The terminology used by doctors and other health professionals contribute to low literacy in patients, and because of the difficulty patients have understanding medical information, health outcomes of patients are jeopardized. The report makes interesting points that expose the unnecessarily complex and confusing language doctors insist on using when talking to patients.

The article discusses what health literacy is and what constitutes good health literacy. Cultural, language and communication barriers have great potential to lead to mutual misunderstandings between patients and their health care providers. Because these barriers lead to communication breakdowns, patient safety is jeopardized, so changes that will permit patients to receive more time, attention, education and understanding of their conditions and their care will help alleviate these obstacles.

This article is concerned with what it may mean to individuals to engage in practices that are physically challenging and risky. The article questions the assumptions that psychological health is commensurate with maintaining physical safety, and that risking one's health and physical safety is necessarily a sign of psychopathology. The research was based upon semi-structured interviews with eight extreme sport practitioners. The interviews were analysed using Colaizzi's version of the phenomenological method. The article explicates the themes identified in the analysis, and discusses their implications for health psychology theory and practice.

This article is concerned with what it may mean to individuals to engage in practices that are physically challenging and risky. The article questions the assumptions that psychological health is commensurate with maintaining physical safety, and that risking one's health and physical safety is necessarily a sign of psychopathology. The research was based upon semi-structured interviews with eight extreme sport practitioners. The interviews were analysed using Colaizzi's version of the phenomenological method. The article explicates the themes identified in the analysis, and discusses their implications for health psychology theory and practice.

Leland discusses how talking down to elderly people, "elderspeak," has a negative effect on their health and outlook of life. These negative effects lead to decreased self-esteem, depression, and even a reduction in life expectancy. Most people actually get infuriated when they are talked to like a child, and say it is an insult to their integrity. Dr. Becca Levy of Yale University says health care workers are some of the worst offenders of elderspeak and are unaware of the negative implication it has on patients, that such patronizing language gives the message that patients are incompetent.

This NYT article is about how the way we refer to and treat the elderly (calling them "dear" or speaking loudly to them, for example) can affect their health. Such studies have broader ranging implications. When we call others derogatory names, can it affect their health? Does using "baby talk" affect the language development of children? Do our assumptions about teenagers affect their intellectual development?

Have Americans been seduced into overeating by the so-called health halo associated with certain foods and restaurants?