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Health literacy theories
Theories for health literacy
Health literacy theories
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To better understand the relationship between health literacy levels and the health outcomes in the heart failure population, Aurelia Macabasco-O’Connell, PhD, RN, ACNP1, Darren A. DeWalt, MD, MPH2,3, Kimberly A. Broucksou, MSW, MPA2, Victoria Hawk, MPH, RD, LDN2, David W. Baker, MD, MPH, Dean Schillinger, MD6, Bernice Ruo, MD, MAS5, Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD6, George M. Holmes, PhD2,4, Brian Erman, BA, MS2, Morris Weinberger, PhD4, and Michael Pignone, MD, MPH2,3, conducted a literature review of the current studies. The authors published their article online through Journal of General Internal Medicine on March 3, 2011 called “Relationship between literacy, knowledge, self-care behaviors, and heart failure-related quality of life among patients with heart failure.”
Health literacy skills include print literacy, numeracy, and oral literacy. Print literacy includes the ability to read and understand direction and interpret information in documents such as medication lists, discharge instructions, as well as the ability to refer to other references for continuing educational material. Numeracy as part of health literacy includes the ability to understand numbers and quantitative information such as interpreting food labels, measuring blood glucose levels and utilizing sliding scales, in addition to understanding medication regimen and doses. Oral literacy involves oral communication such as speaking and listening.
Heart Failure (HF) is a progressively chronic condition that impacts largely the older adult population. HF is characterized by an impairment of the ventricles to fill or eject blood, leading to dyspnea, fluid retention, and eventually death. This debilitating disease leads to frequent hospitalizations with an...
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...ts participants. The findings demonstrated the populations most at need of further intervention to better health maintenance.
This study and the growing body of literature on health literacy have significant clinical implications. Of the reviewed literature, there is a correlation of low health literacy with poor health outcomes. A major factor, which limits the comparison of the resolutions within these studies, is the inconsistency in the way data was collected. Different methods were used to analyze the participants’ health literacy. Overall there is consensus amongst the studies. There are limitations within those studies and further research must be done to obtain definitive data regarding this relationship. Health professionals should take into consideration the health literacy level and need for further education of the chronic disease of the individual.
Heart failure is a major clinical, social and economic problem in the United Kingdom according to the Department of Health [DH] (2013).The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence [NICE] (2010) reported that about 900,000 people suffer from heart failure in the United Kingdom. The National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research [NICOR] (2011) conducted a national audit which found that one in every 20 people over the age of 65 is diagnosed with heart failure which demonstrates that it mainly affects the elderly. As a leading cause of mortality, heart failure contributes to more than 6,000 deaths each year (NICOR, 2011). Newly diagnosed cases of heart failure have a 40% risk of dying within a year (NICOR, 2011). Despite advances in therapy, mortality is still high and only half of patients are alive five years after being diagnosed with heart failure (NICE, 2010).
Hernandez, Lyla M. “Health Literacy, eHealth, and Communication: Putting the Consumer First: Workshop Summary.” Washington, D.C. : National Academies Press, 2009. ebrary. Web. 27 October 2011.
The best way to prevent heart failure is to minimize the risks that cause it and to control existing health problems that are related to the condition such as high blood pressure and diabetes. If a person does happen to have heart failure there are many medications and treatments that can help control the disease and help the patient continue to live as normal of a life as possible. After being discharged from the hospital Mr. Carver will have to be aware of his condition at all times and take the proper measures to keep himself healthy. He will have to make many life changes and continue to keep up on any appointments made to make sure his condition is under control. With the proper understanding and management of his disease, Mr. Carver will be in a good condition to resume his life as before.
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 Literacy is when a person knows what are the three elements that compose health, a lot of people think that health is
A literacy practice is defined as a social practice that is mediated by text and events (Barton and Hamilton 8). Starting off, to become a pilot a college level education is crucial to becoming a pilot. Along with that many texts and other documents have to be understood before even taking off (Become a Pilot). Some of these other documents include flight logs, checklists, and instruction manuals. The most important text according to Dr. Pendergraft is the approach plates. These forms are small pamphlets that layout every airport, their runways, and other regulations. Every airport is required by the Federal Aviation Administration to provide these plates to anyone that will fly into their airport (Become a Pilot). Out side of paper manuals pilots must also be able to read gauges and other instruments to keep the plane in the
Living with heart failure requires you to make changes in your life. Your health care team will teach you about the changes you will need to make in order to relieve your symptoms and lower your
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
As a MAT if I was assisting in the treatment of a patient who was diagnosed with congestive heart failure I would suggest that the patient explore a combination of steps such as, monitored
Primary health problems at the time of enrolment into the TCM were 43% heart failure, 25% ischemic heart disease, 13% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 7% diabetes and 12% other conditions. To compare ordinal data, the Wilcoxon sum tests were used, and t-tests were used for interval or ratio data. Propensity modelling was used to ensure the control and experimental groups were equally represented in demographics, socio-economic status and geographical characteristics. Study findings confirm earlier results regarding the effectiveness of the TCM in enhancing health outcomes and satisfaction with care among chronically ill older
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.
In this study effectiveness refers as the improvement in level of knowledge among patients diagnosed with acute coronary
Literacy is an important part of life; whether in school or on the job, words are all around. Today, fourteen percent of the United States population does not know how to read (The U.S. Illiteracy Rate Hasn’t Changed In 10 Years). Though fourteen percent seems trivial, when put into a number it is equivalent to 5,460,000 people who cannot read at a functional level in the United States. For literacy rates to rise, our country needs to take a more active role in homes, communities, and in schools. To solve this problem, literacy must be defined, statistics need to be examined, issues which arise due to illiteracy must be recognized, diagnostics of reading problems need to be understood and acknowledged, and solutions should be brought to the
When thinking about literacy, we may automatically veer in the direction of reading, but literacy includes writing, comprehension, vocabulary, morphology, phonemes, phonics, spelling, syntax, written expression and even speaking and listening. At the core of all this is oral language. We learn first by listening, and then we learn to talk.