What is health literacy?

HEALTH LITERACY

Anna LambertsonKansas Health Consumer Coalition

Julie BroskiDykes Library, University of Kansas Medical Center

“The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.”

~ Healthy People 2010

What is health literacy?

What factors affect health literacy?

Health literacy is dependent on both individual and system factors:

• Reading skills• Communication skills • Information and knowledge• Culture and language• Demands of the system

Readability of Health Information• Over 300 studies show health-related

materials far exceed the reading ability of U.S. adults

• Increasing number of studies show similar results when looking at the readability of online health information

Source: NLM Bibliography—Understanding Health Literacy and Its Barriers (2004). www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/cbm/healthliteracybarriers.html

Health Information and the Internet

• 80% of Internet users search for health information

• 75% rarely or never check the source and date

• 72% express trust in most or all information found online

Source: Fox, S. Vital Decisions (2003). Online Health Search (2006). Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project. www.pewinternet.org/PPF/c/5/topics.asp

How is Information Critical to Health Literacy?

Health information is key to:

– Patient and provider communication– Shared health care decision making– Understanding and following directions – Recognizing when to seek care– Learning and adopting healthy behaviors

Low health literacy is linked to:

• Under-utilization of services • Increased medication errors• Poor knowledge about health • Increased hospitalizations • Poor health outcomes• Increased healthcare costs

Health Literacy in the U.S.

Intermediate

Basic

Below Basic

Proficient

13%

12%

53%

22%

77 million adults have basic or below health literacy skills

Source: The Health Literacy of American Adults. Results from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy. National

Center for Education Statistics (2006). http://nces.ed.gov/naal/health.asp

Health Literacy and Healthcare Costs

$0

$2,000

$4,000

$6,000

$8,000

$10,000

$12,000

Low-literacy Better literacy

$2,891

$10,688

Annual Healthcare Costs of Medicaid Enrollees

Source: Weiss, et al (2004). J Am Board Fam Pract.

(<3rd-grade reading level) (>4th-grade reading level)

Impact of Low Health Literacy

Use of preventive services

• More likely to skip preventive measures such as mammograms, pap smears, and flu shots

• Enter the healthcare system when they are sicker

Percent of patients with diabetes correctly answering questions according to literacy level (low, moderate, high)

ModerateHigh

Poor Disease Management Diabetes Management

Low

LowModerat

e High

Source: Williams, et al (1998). Arch Int Med.

0 20 40 60 80 100

Need to Know: symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

Need to Do: correct action for hypoglycemic symptoms

Low

Medium

High

Low

Medium

High

What are the impacts of low health literacy in your community?

Strategies to Improve Health Literacy

• Use “living room” language

• Limit information (3-5 key points)

• Use easy-to-read print materials

• Practice teach-back

• Use Information Rx

• Address culture and language needs

“Living Room” LanguageName more common terms for…

• Hypertension• Insomnia• Benign• Hazardous• Disorder • Option • Poultry• Routinely

Health literacy of parents with youngchildren is a major priority for KansasHead Start

Made nationally-recognized healthliteracy training program available to all families

Training for over 3,600 families

Kansas Head Start

confidence

• 82% report increased in their ability to take care of their children's illnesses and injuries

• 41% fewer parents went to the doctor or clinic• 29% less went to the emergency room first when

their child was sick• Parents lost an average of 24% fewer work days• Children lost 18% fewer school days after parents

participated in the training and follow-up coaching

Kansas Head Start

Health Literacy Activity

Health Information for Drug Addicted Pregnant Women

Health Literacy Activity

Health Information for Drug Addicted Pregnant Women

How did we do?Do you like this plan?

What are your thoughts?

confidence

IN MOMENTS OF CONCERN: A SENSE-MAKING STUDY OF PREGNANT,

DRUG-ADDICTED WOMEN AND THEIR INFORMATION NEEDS

confidence

How does this fit with what we know about Health Literacy?

What is your community or organization doing?

Thank you