Plain Language Pediatrics

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Ann Abrams ◽  
Benard P. Dreyer
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Patient Education ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Plain Language ◽  
Reading Levels ◽  
Limited Health Literacy ◽  
Ear Infections ◽  
Limited Health

An essential tool to help improve communication between pediatrician and patient or family, Plain Language Pediatrics offers a framework for implementing a plain language approach to communication in your office, and provides specific steps you can take to ensure the information you present to patients and their parents is clearly understood. Included are 25 reproducible plain language patient education handouts--in English and Spanish! Plain Language Pediatrics combines health literacy and plain language principles to present information in a way that makes it as easy as possible for everyone to understand, and applies these principles to a variety of ambulatory acute, chronic, and preventive conditions. Common pediatric topics such as asthma, ADHD, ear infections, and medical dosing are addressed in detail. This robust resource is divided into 2 parts. Part I explores limited health literacy, including the scope of the problem, how it affects children in particular, and how health care providers can address and overcome health literacy issues with patients and their caregivers. At the heart of Part II is a new series of 25 reproducible patient education handouts in English and Spanish that feature need-to-know information up front, health care terms and jargon, practical pronunciation guides, low reading levels, user-friendly layouts, and simple, purposeful illustrations.

Health Literacy and Multicultural Populations

2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 79-87
Author(s):  
Mercedes Benitez McCrary ◽  
Eva Jackson Hester
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Limited Health Literacy ◽  
Cultural Variations ◽  
Health Care Communication ◽  
Major Factors

Health literacy is recognized as one of the major factors related to positive health outcomes and involves understanding, accessing, and using health information to make necessary health decisions. However, many members of multicultural populations demonstrate limited health literacy due to language barriers, health-care providers' limited knowledge of cultural variations, health-care communication restrictions, and low literacy levels as related to educational attainment. These problems become more complex for people with speech, language, and hearing problems and result in higher risk for inadequate health literacy. In this article, we review the status of health literacy and health-care communication of multicultural populations and offer suggestions for speech-language pathologists and audiologists to improve health literacy.

scholarly journals The importance of shared meaning making for sustainable knowledge translation and health literacy. An example from kidney transplantation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Astrid Wahl ◽  
Marit Andersen ◽  
John Ødemark ◽  
Anna Reisæther ◽  
Kristin Urstad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Patient Education ◽  
Knowledge Translation ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Kidney Transplant Recipient ◽  
Graft Function ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Shared Meaning

The aim of the present paper is to describe and discuss how recent theories about translation, bridging medical and humanistic understandings of knowledge translation, in the medical humanities (Kristeva et al 2018) can bring about a new understanding of health literacy in the context of patient education. We argue that knowledge translation must be understood as a simultaneous interrogation of the patient’s and the health care providers co-construction of new and shared meanings that can create realities with medical consequences. To illustrate our points, we will describe the case of Jim, a kidney transplant recipient who received standard patient education, but lost the graft (the new kidney). If we apply Kristeva’s view onto this context, graft function is not merely a biology but a complex bio-cultural fact. In this perspective, graft function is seen as a phenomenon that embraces translation between health as a biomedical phenomenon and healing as lived experience, and that opens for shared meaning -making processes between the patient and the health care provider. In Jim’s case this means that we need to rethink the approach to patient education in a way that encourage the patient’s idiosyncratic way of thinking and experiencing – and transform health information into a means for sustaining Jim’s particular life – not life ‘in general’. The patient education program did not take into consideration the singularities of Jim’s biographical temporality, with its changes in everyday life, priorities, attitudes and values. The arguments are generic and could be applied to other contexts.

scholarly journals Plain Language Summary: Opioid Prescribing for Analgesia After Common Otolaryngology Operations

2021 ◽  
Vol 164 (4) ◽  
pp. 704-711
Author(s):  
Samantha Anne ◽  
Sandra A. Finestone ◽  
Allison Paisley ◽  
Taskin M. Monjur
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Pain Management ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Clinical Practice Guideline ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Plain Language ◽  
Opioid Prescribing

This plain language summary explains pain management and careful use of opioids after common otolaryngology operations. The summary applies to patients of any age who need treatment for pain within 30 days after having a common otolaryngologic operation (having to do with the ear, nose, or throat). It is based on the 2021 “Clinical Practice Guideline: Opioid Prescribing for Analgesia After Common Otolaryngology Operations.” This guideline uses available research to best advise health care providers, and it includes recommendations that are explained in this summary. Recommendations may not apply to every patient but can be used to facilitate shared decision making between patients and their health care providers.

scholarly journals Interrelationships Between Patients’ Data Tracking Practices, Data Sharing Practices, and Health Literacy: Onsite Survey Study

10.2196/18937 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. e18937
Author(s):  
Yuhan Luo ◽  
Chi Young Oh ◽  
Beth St Jean ◽  
Eun Kyoung Choe
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Data Sharing ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Clinic Visit ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Sufficient Information ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Data Tracking

Background Although the use of patient-generated data (PGD) in the optimization of patient care shows great promise, little is known about whether patients who track their PGD necessarily share the data with their clinicians. Meanwhile, health literacy—an important construct that captures an individual’s ability to manage their health and to engage with their health care providers—has often been neglected in prior studies focused on PGD tracking and sharing. To leverage the full potential of PGD, it is necessary to bridge the gap between patients’ data tracking and data sharing practices by first understanding the interrelationships between these practices and the factors contributing to these practices. Objective This study aims to systematically examine the interrelationships between PGD tracking practices, data sharing practices, and health literacy among individual patients. Methods We surveyed 109 patients at the time they met with a clinician at a university health center, unlike prior research that often examined patients’ retrospective experience after some time had passed since their clinic visit. The survey consisted of 39 questions asking patients about their PGD tracking and sharing practices based on their current clinical encounter. The survey also contained questions related to the participants’ health literacy. All the participants completed the survey on a tablet device. The onsite survey study enabled us to collect ecologically valid data based on patients’ immediate experiences situated within their clinic visit. Results We found no evidence that tracking PGD was related to self-reports of having sufficient information to manage one’s health; however, the number of data types participants tracked positively related to their self-assessed ability to actively engage with health care providers. Participants’ data tracking practices and their health literacy did not relate to their data sharing practices; however, their ability to engage with health care providers positively related to their willingness to share their data with clinicians in the future. Participants reported several benefits of, and barriers to, sharing their PGD with clinicians. Conclusions Although tracking PGD could help patients better engage with health care providers, it may not provide patients with sufficient information to manage their health. The gaps between tracking and sharing PGD with health care providers call for efforts to inform patients of how their data relate to their health and to facilitate efficient clinician-patient communication. To realize the full potential of PGD and to promote individuals’ health literacy, empowering patients to effectively track and share their PGD is important—both technologies and health care providers can play important roles.

The importance of health literacy for self-management: A scoping review of reviews

2021 ◽  
pp. 174239532110354
Author(s):  
Marieke van der Gaag ◽  
Monique Heijmans ◽  
Cristina Spoiala ◽  
Jany Rademakers
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Medical Management ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Limited Health Literacy ◽  
Limited Health ◽  
Behavioural Aspects ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Care System

Objectives Self-management of chronic diseases is rather complex, especially for patients with limited health literacy. In this review, we aim to disentangle the specific difficulties patients with limited health literacy face in relation to self-management and their associated needs with respect to self-management support. Methods We performed a literature search in five databases. We used a broad definition of health literacy and self-management was categorized into four types of activities: medical management, changing lifestyle, communicating and navigating through the health care system and coping. Included reviews described the relationship between health literacy and different domains of self-management and were published after 2010. Results A total of 28 reviews were included. Some clear difficulties of patients with limited health literacy emerged, predominantly in the area of medical management (especially adherence), communication and knowledge. Other associations between health literacy and self-management were inconclusive. Barriers from the patients’ perspective described mainly medical management and the communication and navigation of the health care system. Discussion Patients with limited health literacy experience difficulties with specific domains of self-management. For a better understanding of the relationship between health literacy and self-management, a broader conceptualization of health literacy is warranted, including both cognitive and behavioural aspects.

Health Literacy

2014 ◽  
pp. 280-307
Author(s):  
Glenda Denson Knight
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Quality Healthcare ◽  
Limited Health Literacy ◽  
Improvement Strategies ◽  
Limited Health ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Barriers To Health ◽  
The U.S

The design of the U.S. healthcare system along with increasing expectations of individuals create barriers to health care. One barrier is limited Health Literacy (HL). This essential healthcare ingredient is often disregarded (Murphy-Knoll, 2007). There is debate concerning the definition of HL (Sorensen, Van den Broucke, Fullam, Doyle, Pelikan, Slonska, & Brand, 2012). Still, there is consensus that HL is necessary for quality healthcare (Parker & Gazmararian, 2003) and that HL deficiencies must be addressed. Limited HL independently contributes to poorer health status, greater risk of hospitalizations, and increased likelihood of mortality (Hanchate, Ash, Gazmararian, Wolf, & Paasche-Orlow, 2008; Jeppesen, Coyle, & Miser, 2009). Much is known about HL. Still, few advancements have been made due to gaps between what we know about HL, and the application of that knowledge (Ishikiawa & Kiuchi, 2010). The purpose of this chapter is to provide a HL overview and recommend improvement strategies.

Medication Errors

2016 ◽  
pp. 111-120
Author(s):  
Titilola T. Obilade
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Medication Errors ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Health Literacy Level ◽  
Literacy Level ◽  
Prevention Of Medication Errors

Depending on the statistics examined, medication errors are responsible for 44000 to 400000 deaths annually. This chapter examined the role of societal attributes in medication errors. Although several studies have been conducted on medication errors there is still no uniformity in the definitions which makes evaluation of medication errors difficult. Despite the non-uniformity of definitions, all the research articles reviewed agreed that enhanced oral and written communications between health care providers and patients or parents of patients was a step towards the prevention of medication errors. The health literacy level of both health care providers and consumers also contribute to medication errors.

scholarly journals Health Literacy in Male-Dominated Occupations

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 155798832095402
Author(s):  
Allison Milner ◽  
Marissa Shields ◽  
Anna J. Scovelle ◽  
Georgina Sutherland ◽  
Tania L. King
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Occupational Group ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Gender Ratio ◽  
Occupational Gender ◽  
Male Dominated ◽  
Occupation Level

Low levels of health literacy are associated with poorer health outcomes. Both individual- and social-level factors have been identified as predictors of low health literacy, and men are known to have lower health literacy than women. Previous research has reported that men working in male-dominated occupations are at higher risk of accidents, injury, and suicide than other population groups, yet no study to date has examined the effect of gendered occupational contexts on men’s health literacy. The current article examined the association between occupational gender ratio and health literacy among Australian males. The Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health (Ten to Men) was used to examine associations between occupational gender ratio (measured in Wave 1) and health literacy (measured in Wave 2) across three subscales of the Health Literacy Questionnaire. Multivariable linear regression analyses were used and showed that the more male dominated an occupational group became, the lower the scores of health literacy were. Results for the different subscales of health literacy for the most male-dominated occupational group, compared to the non-male-dominated group were: ability to find good health information, (Coef. −0.80, 95% CI [−1.05, −0.54], p < .001); ability to actively engage with health-care providers, (Coef. −0.35, 95% CI [−0.62, −0.07], p = .013); and feeling understood and supported by health-care providers, (Coef. −0.48, 95% CI [−0.71, −0.26], p = < .001). The results suggest the need for workplace interventions to address occupation-level factors as an influence on health literacy among Australian men, particularly among the most male-dominated occupational groups.

scholarly journals Viewpoint: Health literacy and patient portals

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yulong Gu ◽  
Martin Orr ◽  
Jim Warren
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Patient Portal ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Patient Portals ◽  
Health Consumer ◽  
Improve Patient

Health literacy has been described as the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Improving health literacy may serve to promote concordance with therapy, engage patients in their own health care, and improve health outcomes. Patient portal technology aims at enabling patients and families to have easy access to key information in their own medical records and to communicate with their health care providers electronically. However, there is a gap in our understanding of how portals will improve patient outcome. The authors believe patient portal technology presents an opportunity to improve patient concordance with prescribed therapy, if adequate support is provided to equip patients (and family/carers) with the knowledge needed to utilise the health information available via the portals. Research is needed to understand what a health consumer will use patient portals for and how to support a user to realise the technology?s potential.

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