Health Literacy Tips for Providers

How can you be sure your patients understand the health information you pass on to them? By focusing on health literacy, doctors, nurses and other clinicians can better help patients comprehend complex health information-something of critical importance given today’s transformative healthcare environment. The definition of health literacy is evolving. It used to be about problems or lack of skills that patients had in medical settings, and it has evolved into looking at the alignment between the demands and complexities of health care systems with the needs and abilities of patients, families, caregivers and anyone receiving health information.Here are the practical health literacy tips for providers.

      1.      Don’t panic

First of all, literacy is very complex.  All people have a range of literacy skills and processes.  Only a few of these are captured by any assessment. Consider smart phones.  They’re everywhere, and they require reading and writing.  If your patient can use a smart phone, they certainly have some level of literacy. Even people who are labeled as ‘illiterate’ have sophisticated ways of reading a text or image, keeping track of items, and estimating and calculating.  So don’t panic.

      2.      Communicate clearly

The first step in health literacy involves clear communication, which can move beyond traditional methods of talking and writing. Health literacy is fully effective when providers and patients truly understand one another. The essence of health literacy has to do with mutual understanding. Metaphors, analogies, music and stories are all communication methods that can be implemented to help patients understand and relate to health issues. But the most important piece of the communication puzzle is keeping language simple and concise.

      3.      Don’t let a label ‘stick’ to your patient

Researchers are certain about the fact that a health literacy assessment score is not a proxy for a patient’s education level.  But it can still wind up being treated that way. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking your patient is uneducated, or somehow deficient, if they struggle with reading or writing. Approach your patient as someone who uses language in sophisticated ways in their everyday life. Speak to them with this assumption in mind.  You’ll feel less disconnected from your patient.  You’ll be able to focus on the task at hand, rather than some perceived deficiency.

      4.      Confirm understanding

After information is evidently communicated, the next step is confirmation of knowledge. If there was one more thing clinicians could do to improve health literacy, it should be to confirm understanding. It’s essential to confirm the understanding really happened. You can communicate information, but it won’t be of any use unless the patient truly understands what they are being told.Doctors and nurses may be familiar with concepts known as teaching back and demonstration/re-demonstration. These confirmation methods put responsibility on the providers for clearly communicating, and make certain that information is confirmed following any key points.

      5.      Have a list of apps you can recommend

Apps tend to be graphics-heavy.  They are also interactive.  Both of these traits are beneficial for learning. If you’re not already asking your patients if they use apps, do so.  Keep a list, both of the good and not-so-good ones. Share the ‘good’ ones with other patients. Be prepared to talk about which ones you don’t recommend.

Doctors and nurses play a key role in health literacy awareness, and spreading the message doesn’t just involve the patient and/or caregiver. Raising awareness among peers, colleagues and health care administrators can help all members of the care team promote health understanding throughout all stages of the patient interaction and improve adherence to the follow-up care plan.