Health Literacy

Health Literacy Session
SCLLN General Meeting - Nov 20, 2008
Presenter: Kelli Sandman-Hurley, READ/San Diego

Highlights from afternoon session . . .

Definition: The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriated health decisions. Healthy People 2010

~ can recognize a health information need
~ identify sources
~ search for relevant information
~ evaluate quality of the information
~ use information to make good decisions

Low Health Literacy Impacts
~ average 6% more hospital visits
~ stay in hospital 2 days longer
~ had fewer doctor visits but more hospital resources
~ annual health care costs 4 times higher

Demographics of lower health literacy
~ gender: men
~ age group: over 65
~ racial/ethnic: hispanic
~ living in poverty
~ literacy rate improve with each higher level of education

Clear Communication - Plain Language
~ harmless instead of benign
~ heart instead of cardiac
~ swelling instead of edema
~ tired instead of fatigue
~ side effects instead of adverse events

some additional sources @ literacyspace

Health Literacy Month: October 2008
National Network of Libraries of Medicine
Health Literacy Out Loud 3-CD Set
Ask Me 3

Health Literacy Month: October 2007
video cataloguing the hidden epidemic of low health literacy in America
Health & Literacy Special CollectionRhode Island Health Literacy Project
Health Care Blog