Improving Health Literacy: A Collective Responsibility
In October, organizations and individuals worldwide unite to raise awareness about the global importance of understandable health information. Health literacy is more than literacy. It includes one's ability to think critically, make health decisions, and take action. The impact of poor health literacy on our community is significant, leading to less-than-desirable health outcomes, increased healthcare costs for individuals, and strain on our healthcare system. Healthcare professionals and community members can partner together to address this issue.
Bedside nurses, with their daily interactions and care, are not just caregivers but also educators, playing a pivotal role in enhancing the health literacy of the patients they serve. Their role is crucial in improving health literacy at the bedside every day. This can be achieved by providing various educational formats, such as printed materials, online resources, and educational videos, focusing on key take-home messages, like the importance of medication adherence, recognizing symptoms of worsening conditions, and understanding the need for follow-up appointments, and repeating them verbally to patients and family members.
One empowering way to ensure good quality healthcare is to be an active member of your healthcare team. Patients who ask questions and ensure they understand the answers tend to get more timely, accurate diagnoses and better outcomes. A meaningful way to become an active healthcare team member is to come to your doctor's appointment prepared. Arrive with a list of all the medications you take, both prescription and over-the-counter. Be sure to include vitamins and any dietary or herbal supplements you take.
Additionally, write down all your questions for the visit. This will help alleviate any nervousness or forgetfulness. Ask questions to clarify any information the doctor is telling you. If your doctor is discussing changes in medications or treatment plans, make sure you know the importance of these changes. If you have trouble remembering what your doctor discussed, consider having someone accompany you to appointments. Often, they will remember things you may not.
Improving health literacy in the Permian Basin is a collective responsibility, and we all, as healthcare professionals, can play a role in this critical endeavor. By working together, we can significantly impact our community's health literacy. Contact me at
hillary.chase@midlandhealth.org for additional information and resources for impactful health literacy efforts.