How Health Literacy Affects Both Patients and Providers

• October 05, 2018
• Amber Specialty Pharmacy
• Amber Specialty Pharmacy, Health Tips

Health literacy from a patient’s perspective describes a patient’s ability to read and understand information and directions relating to healthcare. From a healthcare provider’s perspective, health literacy is about communicating information clearly and effectively. Health literacy involves a variety of healthcare topics. Common questions relating to health literacy include:

• Does the patient understand the diagnosis and recognize what it means?
• Does the patient understand prescription guidelines and know how to take their medication?
• Does the patient know how to schedule medical appointments with the right doctor?
• Does the patient know whom to contact with questions and how to reach this person?
• Does the patient acknowledge and understand the steps necessary to maintain good overall health?

Health literacy involves all the skills used to communicate and make sense of health services and health information, followed by making wise and informed healthcare decisions.

What Causes Health Literacy Deficiencies?

People from all backgrounds can struggle to understand information about their healthcare. While education level can affect health literacy, there are many factors to consider. Your cultural background can be major influence on how you view health and wellness. The Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc. offers more information about how culture is linked to health literacy.

In addition to cultural and educational factors, it’s also important to consider specific circumstances and how they affect health literacy. For example, the shock and stress of a new diagnosis can make it harder for people to process information. Many people have limited experience in healthcare, which can leave patients and caregivers frustrated, feeling vulnerable and uncertain of what to do next. These situations and others can contribute to lower health literacy.

Why Should I Care About Health Literacy?

When you have a higher level of health literacy, you are more likely to enjoy better overall health outcomes. You may be able to save money and avoid unnecessary hospital visits from complications. If you have a solid grasp on healthcare knowledge, you can share what’s going on and offer a better explanation to your doctor. You and your medical team can work together to develop a plan of action. People who are comfortable talking and learning about healthcare topics are more confident in their ability to take better care of themselves on a daily basis.

Who is Responsible for Health Literacy?

Healthcare providers take most of the responsibility of healthcare literacy as they help their patients understand health conditions, medication prescriptions and overall wellness. However, everyone can be proactive in understanding healthcare and taking steps to improve health literacy. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reminds us that we all need information about our health, so we all also need health literacy skills.

Health Literacy for Patients

Be Persistent

There are many ways for you to take an active role in improving your health literacy. Many times, you have to be persistent in order to get results. Ask questions, spend time learning about your health condition and make sure you understand what’s going on with your body. You may have to ask doctors to repeat themselves. Keep pressing for information until you are comfortable with your level of understanding. Don’t be ashamed to ask the doctor to use simple, everyday language. If you still have questions about your healthcare, be persistent and keep searching for answers.

Use Different Forms of Communication

Sometimes it’s helpful to get the same information through multiple channels. Many healthcare providers offer various forms of communication, including written materials, pictures, online patient portals and phone support. Multiple forms of communication can be especially helpful for appointment and medication refill reminders. Take advantage of all these resources.

Write Down Questions

Write down your questions before your arrive at medical appointments. This makes it easier for you to remember everything when you see your doctor or talk to your pharmacist. It may be helpful for you to keep a health journal, especially if you’re living with a chronic health condition. Health journals are a great place to write down your questions, medical appointments and health goals. You can also track how you feel on a daily basis. This is all important information for you to review with your doctor or pharmacist.

Record Specific Instructions

If you are an audio learner, ask your doctor if you can record your conversations, especially if they involve specific instructions. This way you can replay your doctor’s exact words from home. It’s very important that you always get permission from your doctors and nurses before recording any conversations to respect their privacy.

Ask for Typed Notes

Ask for all your instructions and other patient information to be delivered in typed notes. Typed notes are often easier to read than normal handwriting. It may be helpful to keep your typed notes with your health journal.

Keep Contact Information Easily Accessible

Keep track of all the important contact information for your healthcare providers. It’s helpful to keep all this information in one, easily accessible place. Many people include this information in their health journal. This way, if you have questions about your healthcare you know which people to call and how to reach them.

Health Literacy for Healthcare Providers

Know the Warning Signs

Some people will freely admit that they don’t understand the health information presented to them. Other people, however, will never bring it up. There are often signs to help you identify low health literacy. If there’s a habit of missed appointments or issues with medication adherence, it can indicate that the patient is having a hard time understanding expectations. One simple way you can gauge your patients’ level of understanding is to ask them to explain their condition, describe their medication schedule and offer a brief medical history.

Be Understanding

It can be scary and frustrating when people don’t know what’s going on with their body. Try to be mindful of the situation from a patient perspective and offer your support.

Connect Patients to Credible Resources

You can support patients and help them improve health literacy by connecting them to reliable resources. Remember, health literacy is also about patients knowing how to care for their overall health and wellness. Guide patients to credible resources and help them find accurate health information.

Take Steps to Improve Health Literacy

Evaluate yourself and your organization, and look for ways to improve your health literacy. Start by reviewing your patient education materials and the resources you provide to patients. HealthLiteracySolutions.org provides resources to help organizations become more health literate.

Amber Specialty Pharmacy Values Health Literacy

Amber Specialty Pharmacy understands that health literacy is crucial. It’s our goal to provide our patients with reliable education resources through our Promises Program®. The clinical team at Amber Specialty Pharmacy is available 24 hours, 7 days a week to answer questions and help patients manage their medication and medication side effects. In addition to a certified case manager, Amber Specialty Pharmacy offers licensed-registered dietitian services, an experienced registered nurse and billing coordinators to help patients navigate the financial side of healthcare.

Patients are the focus of everything we do at Amber Specialty Pharmacy. We provide exceptional customer care that empowers our patients to make informed healthcare decisions. When patients are comfortable and confident in their ability to manage their health condition, they can achieve better overall health outcomes.