write a 1.5-2 paragraph response to below discussion post regarding health literacy. focus on how to help individuals find credible information on the Internet and develop strategies nurses can use to increase the health literacy of their patients. must be in text reference in apa format. using one or more of the following approaches:

• Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence or research.
• Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.
• Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own research in the school Library.
• Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.
• Make a suggestion based on additional evidence drawn from readings or after synthesizing multiple postings.
• Expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional insights or contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.

Initial post:

I am the youngest girl of nine children and is fortunate to have an 85 year, reasonably healthy and independent mom. My mom doesn’t have any major health issues that will cause her to have many trips to the doctors or admissions to hospital. If it were the opposite, my mom would have generations to assist her as she navigates the health care system. However, there are many how have to use the healthcare system frequently and is not quite sure how to navigate it.

Health Literacy

Health Literacy is the acquisition of knowledge that promotes the ability to understand and manage one’s health (McGonigle et al., 2015). Because my mom has minimal use of the health care system and has a massive support system, we are there to assist her with obtaining all of her medical need. Whether there is a support system or not, everyone should have the rights to the same outcomes. The health care providers should be aware of the literacy deficits and implement methods to improve the patients’ literacy. Many physicians overestimate these abilities in their patients, which lead to poor communication, poor outcomes, and even allegations of malpractice (Baum et al., 2011).

Health literacy is not just reading, but it affects the person’s ability to locate, understand, and apply useful knowledge. Health literacy affects following the discharge instruction, understanding medication, complying with treatment plans, healthy decision-making skills, informed consent, and the ability to navigate the health care system. The fallout from health illiteracy can have dire consequences for the patient, the community, and healthcare. Health illiteracy is linked to worse health outcomes, unhealthy lifestyles, and a sicker population. Poor health literacy can directly affect patient compliance with and outcome of care (Baum et al., 2011).

Strategies

A report from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) linked lower literacy to higher risk of mortality for seniors, reduced medication compliance, poorer overall health status; lower health literacy was associated with increased hospitalization, greater emergency care, lower use of mammography, and lower receipt of influenza vaccines (Culp, 2015). Consequently, health literacy is vital to a healthy population and reducing the financial burden on the patients and the institutions. As we know, the healthcare reform is making changes in the healthcare system, which is supposed to increase the quality of care and provide safer care. Health literacy is a reflection of the health care system and health providers, and it must be addressed to fulfill the requirements of healthcare reform.

Patients’ education should be simplified and clearer. There should be two communication with the provider and the patient, and the provider should employ “teach-back” to ensure the patient understand. Many patient education materials are written at a reading level higher than that of most Americans (Baum et al., 2011). A program that assesses the patients’ knowledge of the internet should be in place. Since healthcare is mainly electronic, the population needs to know how to access, navigate, and implement technology into their lives. The eHealth Initiative was developed to address the growing need for managing health information exchange, health literacy, and health delivery (McGonigle et al., 2015). After the patients are comfortable with the internet, they can search the internet for health information. One of the site that provides reliable information is Medline Plus. Medline Plus is the National Institutes of Health’s Web site for patients and their families and friends; free, reliable, and up-to-date information on diseases, conditions, wellness issues, the meaning of words, drugs, and supplements in a language you can understand (medlineplus.gov., 2017). There is plenty of health information on the web, along with plenty of health misinformation. By learning health literacy and utilizing it correctly, Medline Plus can be a great asset with health care decisions,

Conclusion

Health literacy is more than the ability to read; it understands the process of making medical decisions. By understanding the process and applying it correctly, health literacy can reduce many preventable health problems. It is the duty of the providers to speak to the patients in the lowest level of understanding so that learning can take place. Once learning takes place, the patient can use health literacy as a source of empowerment. It will give the patients the confidence to seek and apply accurate information to all areas of health in their lives and their family lives.

References

Baum, N., & Dowling, R. (2011). Health Literacy: How do your patients rate? Urology Times, 39(9), 32. Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

Culp, M. (2015). Health Literacy: Implications and Strategies. Radiologic Technology, 87(1).

McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K.G. (2015). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.

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