So you’re kinda scratching your head right now and asking “what or how does this apply to me”? Well this post is supposed to be relatively simple. When I worked at the hospital we used to have health literacy fairs. These fairs provided informations to healthcare workers to promote literacy in the things we do. So instead of saying, “Mr. Johnson, today we are performing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy”. You might say to him, “Good morning Mr. Johnson, I hear that you are here to have your gallbladder removed today”? He then doesn’t look at you cross-eyed and verifies that yes indeed! He is going to have his gallbladder removed today! If you notice, in my blogs, when there is terminology that I think you might not understand, I often put in parentheses what I mean. This is basic health literacy! Making sure that you understand, using words that you understand. So, why is this important to you? How many of YOU, have sit in front of your doctor, nodding yes, only to leave and think, “I have no idea what she/he was talking about”. You are not alone.
Stone cold facts: ONLY 79% of Americans can read! That means 1 in 5 people are illiterate! Of the 79% that can read, only 46% of them can read above 6th grade level-that’s barely above elementary school. Think. About. That! And that’s not including basic knowledge of health issues. That’s why this month we will become health literacy wise!
Several factors affecting literacy are not only the basic literacy requirement itself, but chronic health conditions such as pain, confusion, age, and medications for example. I have more than several patient visits when the patient could barely hold their eyes open, or they were elderly and had difficulty understanding. Nerves, I have a lot of patients say that they are nervous, or that I was more down to earth than they were expecting—I think this attributed to nursing! As a healthcare provider, it is my duty to make sure patients understand what, when, where and why. I have went to the parking lot and asked to speak to families, called wives and husbands, if there are questions about the integrity of the visit.
Improving health literacy requires communication from you as a patient as much as your healthcare provider. As a provider, we can be rushed and forget our audience. YOU have to advocate for yourself, if you don’t understand, ask again, repeat what they are saying, or ask for someone else to explain it. Ask them to use PLAIN English and small words! Even I am overwhelmed sometimes. I can guarantee what your PCP is saying IS important and you need to understand. Be an advocate for someone you know! Often, people are afraid they will “bother” someone if they ask for help. But if you know you neighbor needs the support and may be having memory issues, offer to call a loved one or go with them-you may save their life! Most often, patients do NOT understand their medications, side effects, dosing, etc. Or even the medications they are supposed to stop, having someone there for them can mean avoiding an ER visit, or worse. I cannot reinforce enough to ask your provider what your treatment plan is BEFORE you leave. They make have told you but telling you one more time is ok! My students that I have had, often tell me that they like how I tell the patient what to do 2-3 times before they leave the office. I think this just reflects on my prior nursing experience. Again, educating is WHY I took this endeavor up to begin with!
I thinking about health literacy, remember just to ASK QUESTIONS, BE AN ADVOCATE, and if you don’t understand SPEAK UP! Being health literate IS being well WISE!
Sources: https://www.thinkimpact.com/literacy-statistics/ https://www.cdc.gov/healthliteracy/basics.html
Becoming Wellness Wise 