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Learn MoreThis blog post is the first in a series of three excerpts from our recent article, Prioritizing Health Literacy in Your Organization Will Improve Patient Access While Cutting Costs.
There is an undeniable link between health literacy and health outcomes, but unfortunately only a small portion of Americans have the proficiency needed to manage their health. While government agencies are making efforts to improve the health of Americans by creating accessible health information, healthcare professionals and systems must work alongside them to ensure that their patients are receiving understandable health services and information. Improving patient access to health information has the potential to improve patient health, increase the use of preventative services, decrease rate of hospitalization, and cut healthcare costs.
Connecting Health Literacy and Health Communication
A person’s health literacy skills can significantly affect his or her ability to navigate the healthcare system. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) suggests that a person’s health literacy level influences the way he or she completes forms, locates providers, reports personal health information, and manages diagnoses. ODPHP cites individual and systemic factors that affect health literacy, including (ODPHP, 2006):
Understanding the importance of and connection between health communication and health literacy is a part of ODPHP’s work. ODPHP defines health communication as “human and digital interactions that occur during the process of improving health and health care.” Health literacy is defined as “the degree to which a person has the capacity to obtain, communicate, process, and understand basic health information and services in order to make appropriate health decisions (ODPHP, 2018).”
Improving health communication and increasing national health literacy are central to ODPHP’s goal to improve the health of all Americans. These two are interconnected, and efforts must be made to change the way health professionals communicate with patients in order to ensure that their patients understand the health information given to them (ODPHP, 2018).
Prevalence of Health Literacy
According to the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL), which assessed the English literacy of adults in the United States, only 12% had proficient health literacy. Fifty-three percent had intermediate health literacy, 22% had basic health literacy, and the remaining 14% had below basic health literacy (NCES, 2006). Referencing the Healthy People 2010 report, ODPHP (2010) suggests, “Everyday health promotion and disease prevention activities, along with effective navigation of today’s health care system and response to public health alerts and recommendations, require proficient health literacy.” If only 12% of American adults have the skills needed to simply navigate the system and appropriately understand their health, it should not be surprising that a disproportionate number of patients end up unnecessarily in the emergency room or are hospitalized for what should have been a preventable admission.
At-Risk Populations
Although people from across diverse backgrounds are affected by low health literacy, ODPHP reports, “Limited health literacy affects people of all ages, races, incomes, and education levels, but the impact of limited health literacy disproportionately affects lower socioeconomic and minority groups.” They cite the following populations as most likely to experience limited health literacy (ODPHP, 2010):
National Health Literacy Initiatives
ODPHP was created in 1976 to “lead disease prevention and health promotion efforts and disseminate health information” (ODPHP, 2018). One of their initiatives focuses on health literacy and clear communication between caregivers and patients. ODPHP co-leads the Health Literacy Workgroup, a collaboration of all operating agencies under HHS that prioritizes the improvement of health literacy. In 2010 the workgroup created the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy, an action plan that outlines goals and strategies to improve health literacy. Additionally, in partnership with the CDC and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), ODPHP aids in the development and tracking of Healthy People objectives (ODPHP, 2018).
References
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). 2006. The health literacy of America’s adults: Results from the 2003 national assessment of adult literacy. U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved from https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2006/2006483.pdf
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP). (2006). Quick guide to health literacy. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from https://health.gov/communication/literacy/quickguide/Quickguide.pdf
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP). (2010). National action plan to improve health literacy. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from https://health.gov/communication/HLActionPlan/pdf/Health_Literacy_Action_Plan.pdf
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP). (2018). Health literacy and communication. Retrieved from https://health.gov/communication/
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HealthStream’s learning management system and comprehensive suite of competency management tools empower your healthcare workforce to deliver the best patient care.
View All Learning & PerformanceHealthStream offers performance learning management solutions to help develop your healthcare staff into leaders and reduce turnover.
View All ProductsHealthStream works with healthcare organizations to create engaging and high-quality training videos for your staff and management.
View All ProductsImprove care quality and save money by making informed decisions about your healthcare facility and staff with HealthStream's reporting analytics solution.
View All ProductsHealthStream's proven methods for the improvement and overall engagement of your healthcare staff foster a positive workplace and increase retention rates.
View All ProductsThe leadership development program from HealthStream helps mold your high-potential healthcare employees into proven leaders.
View All ProductsWhen you enact HealthStream's quality compliance solutions, you can do so with the confidence your healthcare organization will meet all standards of care.
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View All ProductsBy increasing your healthcare staff's focus on quality and safety with HealthStream, they can help to reduce medical errors and readmission rates.
View All ProductsLearn about what HealthStream's healthcare policy management software and how it can help aid your organization efforts.
View All ProductsHealthStream's education helps address diversity, equity, and inclusion within your organization, as well as promoting health equity in the communities you serve.
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View All ProductsIn all areas of resuscitation, from neonatal to elderly care, clinical deterioration is a risk that can be avoided with the help of HealthStream's training programs.
View All ProductsExpand the decision-making skills and effectiveness of your healthcare workforce with HealthStream's clinical development programs and services.
View All Clinical DevelopmentMake sure your clinicians have the support they need to provide competent care with clinical competency training and development from HealthStream.
View All ProductsThe suite of healthcare onboarding solutions available from HealthStream aids in nurse retention and improved patient outcomes.
View All ProductsGive your healthcare staff the decision support and skills training they need with the online products available from HealthStream.
View All ProductsHealthStream's solutions allow your healthcare workforce to be confident and competent with the knowledge they are upholding the highest of standards.
View All ProductsHealthStream’s learning management system and comprehensive suite of competency management tools empower your healthcare workforce to deliver the best patient care.
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View All ProductsProvide an easier way to view healthcare staff capacity insights while seeing a patient’s journey with HealthStream’s operational intelligence and machine learning products.
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