• Health literacy is the ability to access, understand, and use health information to make informed decisions about health care.
• Healthcare workers should use plain language and avoid medical jargon when communicating with patients.
• Provide resources to your patients outside the doctor’s office, such as online forums and websites
• Recruit patients to participate in research projects and provide feedback on treatments and programs.
• Encourage patients to actively engage in their health care and advocate for themselves when needed.
Health literacy is the ability to access, understand, and use health information to make informed decisions about one’s health care. It is a critical tool for healthcare workers to ensure that patients receive adequate care and make the best health decisions. Here’s how to build health literacy in your community.
Start at the Source
You should start by looking at yourself and asking: are you providing clear communication? Are you using language that your patients can understand? If you are not communicating in an accessible way, it will be difficult to build health literacy among your patients.
As a healthcare worker, you should also consider ways to ensure that the information you provide is concise and understandable. This could include using visual aids or creating pamphlets that provide easy-to-understand summaries of procedures and treatments. Here are ways you can start:
- Use plain language. Avoid using medical terminology or jargon when speaking with patients. Speak clearly and use language that is easy for them to understand. If you must use medical terminology, explain it so your patient can follow along more easily.
- Ask your patient questions about their understanding of the information you’ve provided—this will help you determine if they truly comprehend what you’ve said. This will also help them retain the information more effectively than if you provide them with information without allowing for any clarification or discussion.
- Encourage questions. Make sure your patients feel comfortable asking questions during their appointments; this will help ensure they fully understand their condition or treatment plan before leaving the office. Additionally, encourage them to ask questions even after they have left the office to get additional clarification if needed; this could be done via phone call or email, depending on what works best for both parties involved.
Provide Resources
Another way to build health literacy is by providing resources for patients outside the doctor’s office. This could be in the form of online forums, websites, or even apps that provide helpful resources, such as videos on various medical topics or links to reliable sources of medical information. Additionally, you can collaborate with local libraries or support groups so that individuals have access to books or other materials related to their condition. The goal is to empower individuals with the knowledge to feel more confident in making informed decisions about their healthcare needs.
Give your patient access to reliable websites or print materials they can refer back to after their appointment so they can continue learning more about their condition or treatment options on their own time. You should also consider providing educational materials at every appointment so that your patient continues learning even after they leave the doctor’s office.
Printed resources such as brochures and pamphlets can be extremely helpful in providing additional information about a specific condition or treatment. You can distribute these to your patients at no cost to ensure they can access the information. Or make it available for download online for those who don’t have access to print materials.
Involve Patients
Healthcare providers need to involve patients in decision-making processes when appropriate. Here are a few ways to do this:
Recruit Patients
Recruitment of patients is one way to build health literacy. It involves inviting patients to participate in research projects or providing feedback on treatments and programs. This can increase understanding of healthcare services, leading to better health outcomes for individuals.
Encourage Patient Engagement
You should also encourage your patients to actively engage in their health care. This could include self-monitoring their condition and staying informed about their treatments and any new developments in the field. This also involves taking an active role in their health care and advocating for themselves when needed.
Invite Feedback
You should also consider collecting feedback from your patients after appointments or procedures. This will help you understand how well they comprehended the information or if there are areas where they need additional clarification. Inviting feedback also allows your patients to communicate any concerns they may have and can help you provide better care in the future.
Organize Community Events
Organizing community events can also build health literacy in your area. These could include seminars, workshops, or classes that provide education about various medical topics. You can also host events with guest speakers or panel discussions featuring healthcare professionals and experts on a particular topic. These events can help individuals learn about their healthcare options and make more informed decisions.
Building health literacy is key to providing quality healthcare services and helping individuals make informed decisions about their health. Doing these things will help create a strong foundation of trust between you and your patients while enabling individuals with the knowledge to make informed choices regarding their medical care!
