Health Literacy

What is Health Literacy?   the ability to read and understand healthcare forms, prescription instruction and patient care information.  the ability to communticate Health care needs to a doctor or nurse.

What is Health care Illiteracy?   This is the INABILITY to understand forms,instructions and a serious breakdown in communication with a healthcare provider.

How does it affect the patient? the population as a whole?    A patient without healthcare literacy can feel ashamed of their inablilty to understand instructions from the healtcare provider the fear of filling out the forms incorrectly and will automatically be defensive upon being exposed.  How does this affect the population as a whole?  this will rise healthcare cost due to the patients inability to understand and fulfull their healthcare obligation.

What are the factors that affect healthcare literacy?      the lack of reading and writing skills.

What are some of the behaviors or coping skills with those with limited literacy skills?  agree to everything, son;t ask questions, take prescription by color of the pill. 

How can you test for Healthcare literacy?    length of time to fill out forms,asking questions regarding education levels.

is this a big problem and why?  Yes we think this is a big problem because the patient is putiing their life in danger and other people around them.   

What can be done - we think that the healthcare provider is aware of the sensitivity of illieracy in america and are reacting to solving the problem with improving communication, using living room language, use visual aids, involve family member and employ the teach back method