Health literacy: concept, outcomes, strategy and health professionals’ roles
Introduction
Health literacy plays an important role in individuals’ decision-making. The scope of health literacy does not limit to traditional medical perspective. In fact, it has extended from the basic understanding of diseases and medications to all aspects that affect health. As one of the key social determinants, health literacy has huge impact on health and well-being. Its influence is associated with disease prevention, healthy lifestyle promotion, policy making, etc. This essay will first discuss the concept of health literacy and the consequences that link to it, and then give a strategy—designing user-centred messages in education, to improve health literacy,
…show more content…
It required students to learn literacy in science subjects in order to increase the scientific vocabulary. Simply, health literacy means ‘constellation of skills, including the ability to perform basic reading and numerical tasks required to function in the health care environment’ (Bresolin 1999). Beyond reading and numeracy skills, health literacy is further defined as ‘the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain and process and understand basic health related information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions (US Department of Health and Human Services 2007). The World Health Organization (1998) points out that health literacy as ‘the cognitive and social skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health’. These definitions suggest that the focus of health literacy has been shifted to a broader range, from individual capacity to social perspective. It emphasises not only the communication abilities but also the environmental factors such as support and empowerment from the community that enable individuals to make appropriate …show more content…
This could involve pre-test to examine users’ current literacy capacity to determine what word health workers should select in designing message. The messages designed for parents should differ from the one designed for school children. Individuals’ health literacy was also concentrated on functional level, such as the ability to read doctor’s instruction (William el al. 1995). Yet, one’s reading skill does not always comparable with listening, writing or writing skill (Schonlau et al. 2011). When health message is complex, health professionals should not assume individuals could understand only by checking their reading skills. In fact, they should consider overall level of consumers’ literacy level.
Conclusion
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
Literacy programs should be an integral component of every community. Not only do these programs serve adults and foreigners, but they also serve those that live with the problems of poverty throughout their daily lives. In 2000-2001, 15.7% of students missed 21 or more days during the school year. Students who miss many days of school because of illnesses beyond their control often fall behind in their studies. Many literacy programs help these students excel in what otherwise would have been a deficiency in their learning.
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.
Egbert, N., & Nanna, K. (2009, September 13) Health Literacy: Challenges and Strategies. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 14(3). Retrieved November 12, 2013 from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol142009/No3Sept09/Health-Litera...
Health communication, at its most effective incorporates the study and use of communication strategies to education, inform, and influence individual and societal decisions for the purpose of promoting health (Site, 2012). The goal of health communication is to promote healthy lifestyle changes and practices in a population through the use of communication methods and tools. Health communication covers a variety of health issues including disease prevention, health promotion, health care policy, and the...
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).
One of the most important elements in discharge teaching is the concept of health literacy. This can be defined as: “…the ability of the patient to understand and obtain basic health information services,” (Kornburger, 2013 p. 288). This information is to help patient better understand about their illness and treatment. Another research done by Weiss (2007) states that, “The relationship between limited health literacy and poorer health occurs in all socioeconomic groups and in many disease states”. This researcher also adds that 89 to 90 million adults in the United States have limited health literacy. Given this data, it is possible ...
Health issues throughout the human lifespan are always hard to deal with. In this essay, I will give examples of different health issues that occur throughout the lifespan of a human. The seven different stages of a human’s lifespan include: infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood, and late adulthood. By the concluding paragraph of this essay, you will have gained knowledge of some of the health related issues of a given person throughout their lifespan.
Literacy, or the capability to comprehend, translate, utilize, make, process, assess, and speak information connected with fluctuating settings and displayed in differing organizations, assumes an essential part in molding a young's persons trajectory in life. The ability to read speaks to a key factor of scholarly, social, and financial success (Snow, Burns, & Griffin, 1998). These abilities likewise speak to a fundamental segment to having a satisfying life and turning into an effective worker and overall person (Snow, Burns, & Griffin, 1999). Interestingly, recent studies have demonstrated that low reading skills lead to critical hindrances in monetary and social achievement. As stated by the National Center for Education Statistics, adults with lower levels of reading skills and literacy have a lower average salary. Another study evaluated that 17 to 18 percent of adults with "below average" literacy aptitudes earned less than $300 a week, though just 3 to 6 percent of adults with "proficient" reading abilities earned less than $300 a week (Snow, Burns, & Griffin, 1998).
To determine the literacy skills of American adults, the 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS) used test items that resembled everyday life tasks. The NALS classified the results into five levels that are now commonly used to describe adults’ literacy skills. In Level 1 almost all of the adults can read a little but not well enough to fill out an application, read a food label, or read a simple story to a child. Adults in Level 2 usually can perform more complex tasks such as comparing, contrasting, or integrating pieces of information but usually not higher-level reading and problem-solving skills. Adults in levels 3 through 5 usually can perform the same types of more complex tasks with increasing length and subject matter (Knox 37).
Health shapes our life, if you practice bad health practices, chances are you’re often sick, overweight, disease, or other medical issue. There are three main points of a person’s health, not just their physical health. The three parts are; social, mental/emotional, and of course physical. Setting health goals depends on age, body, and health of a person. I am 14 years old, and I am 5 feet tall, around 100 pounds. I’m generally the correct size for someone of my age. Though, it’s hard to achieve perfect health.
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.
Literacy education must be conceptualized as more than reading and writing (Auerbach et al. 1996). According to Fingeret (1992), "our understanding of literacy has changed from [a] focus on individual skills, separated from meaningful content .
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.
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.