October is Health Literacy Month! Understanding health information empowers us to make better decisions for our well-being. Let’s raise awareness and promote clear communication for healthier communities.
Read below to learn more!
Clear and empathetic – what all patients need. Let’s talk health literacy during Health Literacy Month!
What is health literacy and why does it matter to both patients and healthcare providers (HCPs)?
This month, we want to highlight health literacy – the ability to find, understand, and utilize medical information and healthcare services in order to communicate with providers and make informed decisions about one’s healthcare.¹˒²
The more “health literate” you are, the more likely you are able to navigate the complexities of healthcare, manage chronic conditions, take preventive measures, and receive better-quality care.
The risks and reasons
Personal, or individual, health literacy can be a risk and determinant of health depending on how well a patient understands their current state of well-being and healthcare options.³
For HCPs, understanding a patient’s health literacy level can improve communication and foster a more empathetic relationship.
When health literacy is prioritized, there are usually…
Less frequent, unnecessary emergency room (ER) visits
Less dosing errors
Better care for patients with chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure, HIV/AIDS)
Nearly nine out of ten adults struggle to fully understand health information when it includes unfamiliar or complex terms.⁴
Though several factors – such as socioeconomic environment, language barrier, and resource availability – may be at play, it is a provider’s responsibility to accommodate wherever a patient may need extra support to ensure the best care possible.⁵
This can be achieved in numerous ways, including providing patients with appropriate educational resources and adjusting communication approaches with patients at the point of care.
Empowering patients
Empowering patients is essential for improving health literacy and overall health outcomes.
Although it is an HCP’s job to provide patients with clarification on their condition(s) and treatment options, it is beneficial for patients to go into an appointment with prior knowledge.⁶
In today’s digital world, especially given how easily information can be misconstrued, many patients with little health literacy may distrust and/or struggle to navigate through the overwhelming abundance of accessible information.
Younger generations are more likely to turn to digital platforms for health information, so providing tools like health apps or easy-to-navigate websites help bridge the gap between online research and professional medical advice. For example, the Medline Plus app features services of the National Library of Medicine with easy-to-understand wellness information in both English and Spanish.⁷˒⁸
To enhance the trustworthiness and accessibility of online information, the CDC also created an index search tool, which translates medical jargon into plain language for better understanding.⁹
Sources of health information also include the World Health Organization (WHO), nonprofit organizations such as the Global Health Council, health workers, pharmaceutical companies, and other resources.
Additionally, HCPs can offer educational resources, such as pamphlets or workshops, which explain common health issues in plain language. Tailoring this information to fit the patient’s needs and background can enhance comprehension of complex concepts.
For example, a study on low-income pregnant women with low health literacy found varying degrees of negative impact on both the mother and fetus due to the lack of health literacy. In severe cases, it resulted in a higher rate of hospitalization and emergency service use. This led to the development of an approach that focused on the communication between midwives and mothers, with an emphasis on training programs on cultural relevance and communication skills.¹⁰˒¹¹
The role of HCPs
HCPs play a critical role in fostering health literacy and ensuring effective communication.
Simplifying medical language when discussing diagnoses, treatments, and medications will optimize understanding, especially if the patient has pre-existing knowledge. Plain language also cultivates an inviting environment where patients feel emboldened to ask questions about their health and advocate for themselves.
In addition, implementing frameworks like the Health Literate Care Model (HLCM), which assumes that patients may have limited access to health services and information, also meets patients where they are. This universal approach prioritizes effective communication between healthcare teams and patients. It also encourages HCPs to include the teach-back method, where patients repeat medical information back to their HCP to ensure clear understanding. The model insists on shared decision-making, which involves extended conversation between HCPs and patients to collaboratively determine treatment plans and decisions.¹²
By prioritizing health literacy, HCPs can contribute significantly to patient empowerment, leading to better health outcomes and enhanced patient satisfaction.
Utilizing technology
Recently, there have been efforts to incorporate more AI-based approaches to simplify health-related lexicon. Though AI can be a useful tool, sources like ChatGPT include disclaimers discouraging patient use for personalized health advice.¹³
A study comparing the accuracy of medical information provided by ChatGPT and Google Search found that ChatGPT excelled in delivering general medical knowledge, while Google Search was more effective in providing medical recommendations.¹⁴
However, since neither offers absolute accuracy, the need for communication with a professional (whether in person or through telehealth services) should be the decisive step in seeking proper healthcare.
Octane’s approach
At Octane, we believe the best way in which HCPs can inform and communicate with patients is through common language. We support HCPs by providing training, resources, and tips on how to best communicate with patients – whether in-person or virtually – to make them a more active participant in their health journey.
We believe in further empowering patients by providing direct access to clear information. In line with this goal, we design plain-language resources (and translations when possible), making it easier for patients from various backgrounds to better understand their conditions and/or available treatment options.
Plain language resources should also include languages such as Spanish, the second most spoken language in the U.S. This underscores the ongoing need for translations and interpreters, particularly to ensure accessibility for diverse populations. Providing materials in multiple languages can also improve overall literacy, especially for underserved communities.¹⁵
Certain chronic conditions may require more in-depth educational initiatives to improve health literacy and HCP/patient communications.
At Octane, we engineer educational programs for HCPs and patients, focused on partnership and management of these chronic conditions. Most recently, Octane supported an award-winning education initiative focused on diabetes management and continuous glucose monitoring, an area where education and clear communication is critical to achieving better outcomes. Tailored to patients and HCPs, the program consisted of various videos on how the glucose monitoring device and associated app were programmed, what information was generated, and how this data was used to monitor the patient’s health status.¹⁶
References
Institute for Healthcare Advancement. About health literacy. Updated 2024. Accessed October 17, 2024.
National Library of Medicine. Health literacy. Updated 2024. Accessed October 17, 2024.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. About health literacy. Updated 2024. Accessed October 17, 2024.
Prevention UCfDCa. Talking points about health literacy. Updated 2024. Accessed October 17, 2024.
Nagari A, Keshvani N, Patel L, Dhruve R, Sumarsono A. Electronic health Literacy gaps among adults with diabetes in the United States: Role of socioeconomic and demographic factors. Prev Med Reports. 2024;47.
Tan SS, Goonawardene N. Internet health information seeking and the patient-physician relationship: A systematic review. J Med Internet Res. 2017;19(1).
Lupton D. Young people’s use of digital health technologies in the global north: Narrative review. J Med Internet Res. 2021;23(1).
National Library of Medicine. About Medline Plus. Updated 2024. Accessed October 17, 2024.
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Everyday words for publish health communication. Updated 2024. Accessed October 17, 2024.
Vamos CA, Merrell L, Detman L, Louis J, Daley E. Exploring women’s experiences in accessing, understanding, appraising, and applying health information during pregnancy. J Midwifery & Women’s Health. 2019;64(4).
Ningrum EW, Lusmilasari L, Huriyati E, Marthias T, M H. Improving maternal health literacy among low-income pregnant women: A systematic review. Narra J. 2024;4(2).
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Health literate care model. Updated 2021. Accessed October 17, 2024.
Ayre J, Mac O, McCaffery K, et al. New frontiers in health literacy: Using ChatGPT to simplify health information for people in the community. J Gen Internal Med. 2024;39.
Ayoub NF, Lee Y, Grimm D, Divi V. Head-to-head comparison of ChatGPT versus Google search for medical knowledge acquisition. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 2023;170(6).
Fitzpatrick PJ. Improving health literacy using the power of digital communications achieve better health outcomes for patients and practitioners. Front Digit Health. 2023;17(5).
Powers MA, Bardsley JK, Cypress M, Rinker J, Siminerio LM, Uelman S. Diabetes self-management education and support in adults with type 2 diabetes: A consensus report of the American Diabetes Association, the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of PAs, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the American Pharmacists Association. J Academy Nutrition and Dietetics. 2021;121(4).
