...Health Literacy: Key to increasing Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality Healthcare literacy is as essential as basic academic education. It enables one to understand the medical aspects of their body, along with pointing them in the correct direction regarding how to take care of it, illness prevention, and basic healthcare measures (Health Literacy, 2010). It acts as an important aspect in increasing patient safety and healthcare quality – both crucial elements of a healthcare organization and its functioning. However, a very alarming issue is that there exist a huge percentage of population, which has low health literacy, or is completely health illiterate. Although there have been various measures taken targeting this issue, there still...
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...HEALTH LITERACY, PERCEIVED MEDICATION BENEFITS, MEDICATION ADHERENCE AND HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIOUR AND MEDICATION ADHERENCE AMONG PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES ATTENDING PRIMARY CARE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES OF IKENNE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGERIA INTRODUCTION Background and Scope of the Study The main aim of any attempted remediation of a health problem of patients in a health system is to achieve certain desired health outcomes in the patient. These desired outcomes however might not be realizable if the patients are not strictly following prescribed treatment even when the health care professionals have performed their part effectively. The synergy of the relationship between low literacy, patient decision - making, and compliance with prescribed medication use makes it quite difficult to achieve the desired outcomes in medical therapy (Nutbeam, 2008, Atulomah et al, 2010) of overall increase in health status. Health literacy is defined as the capacity of individuals to obtain, interpret and understand basic health information and services, as well as the competence and motivation to use such information and services in ways that enhance their health (Institute of Medicine, 2004) Several studies have been have been conducted to evaluate peoples level of literacy and adherence to medication. Health literacy rates in developed countries have been conducted in the United States (USA), United Kingdom (UK), Australia, and Canada to evaluate the rate of health literacy...
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...Associations Among Health Literacy and Outcomes in Pregnancy: A Systematic Literature Review Pregnancy and childbirth is often a woman’s first adult encounter with the health care system (Ferguson, 2008). Pregnant women need to have the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitude to best interact with the complex health care system. Outcomes such as low birth weight, premature delivery and breastfeeding rates have significant influence on a child’s health as well as increased cost to the system. The medical cost of a preterm birth is approximately three times more than a term birth. In 2005, the estimated cost associated with preterm birth was $26.2 billion when accounting for medical, educational and lost productivity costs (Institute of Medicine,...
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...Problem Statement Health literacy refers to a person’s ability to read and understand basic health care information so they are able to make informed decisions related to their treatment and care. Unfortunately, the Medicare population (comprised generally of those aged 65 and over) displays a large percentage of patients that are at or below the basic level of health literacy knowledge (see Appendix A for information regarding health literacy level by age for adult patients) making understanding complex prescription dosing regimens difficult and confusing. Low health literacy results in the inability of Medicare patients to understand their physicians’ instructions, especially for patients that are prescribed more than one medication. “Although...
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...In 2014, only 68.8 percent of individuals reported they felt their provider gave instructions that were easy to understand (Healthy People 2020, 2014). With regards to the care of children, communication between the provider and parent encourages shared decision-making and helps the parent take charge of their child’s health. (CITE). Communication breakdown, which includes low health literacy, often occurs during office visits and can lead to the parent’s inability to manage their child’s health care (cite). Problem Statement Poor communication and low health literacy have been shown to cause decreased health maintenance, an increase in hospitalization, and infrequent use of preventative services (Nouri & Rudd, 2015). Communication is defined...
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...topics of health literacy and health education. The first section of this paper will discuss the relationship between these three topics. Next, this paper will outline goals of care, how nurses can work to ensure continuity of this care, and the transition of patients from the hospital setting to outpatient facilities. The World Health Organization defines health literacy as “the cognitive and social skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health” (WHO, 2015), making health literacy an important factor in the manage...
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...Quantitative Research article Critique Grand Canyon University Introduction to research NRS 433 Citation Mancuso, J. (2010) Impact of health literacy and patient trust on glycemic control in an urban USA population. Nursing &health sciences 12(1), 94-104.doi:10,1111/j,1442-2018,2009.00506.x. Introduction This critique examines the research reported by Mancuso (2010) that examined the health literacy and patient trust as predictors of glycemic control. This study also examined others factors like demographics, socioeconomic status, diabetes knowledge, self care activities and depression as related to glycemic control. Th epurpose of this critique is to determine the quality of the research on the basis of the information provided in the report, as well as the potential usefulness for nursing practice or improvement in nursing knowledge (Mancuso, 2010). The author recommended implementing evidence–based interventions to improve diabetes outcome, avoid public health crisis from diabetes mortality and morbidity, and economic cost with the population growth, obesity on rise and aging. Problem Statement The problem statement was as stated in the article.Mancuson provided statistical information from Centers for Disease control showing in 2006,diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in USA.Diabetes has no cure and can lead to serious complications which include heart, kidney, nervous system, and dental diseases, stroke, blindness, hypertension, amputation, sexual...
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...Health Literacy "It has long been recognised that people with less well developed literacy, language and numeracy skills (LLN) also have poor health outcomes." (DfES 2006). Poor basic skills impacts on the ability to navigate the healthcare system. It makes it harder, if not impossible, for individuals to make choices about their treatment and their ability to make healthy lifestyle choices. Health Literacy is the ability of individuals to make informed decisions about their health. Everyone needs these skills, but those with poor LLN skills are more at risk poorer health literacy, poorer health outcomes and greater health inequalities. Health literacy involves basic health knowledge and a range of skills including: • the ability to find and read health information; • the ability to comprehend and evaluate health information; • the ability to communicate verbally with health professionals; • the ability to assimilate the above to make better informed personal decisions on their health. Within a health context these skills are needed in order to: • navigate and access the healthcare system and use services appropriately; • communicate health needs effectively; • make empowered choices and decisions about both healthy lifestyles and treatment options; • understand and follow treatment instructions; • both communicate and understand essential information in routine...
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...Among Persons With Limited Health Literacy Monica Doyle WaldenUniversity Low Health Literacy among Diabetic Patients Low health literacy is a significant barrier among patients with diabetes. Low health literacy is widespread among patients suffering from diabetes (Cavanaugh et al., 2009). It is linked to poor knowledge regarding diabetes as well as the difficulty to learn advanced skills of self-care required for improving glycemic control (Cavanaugh et al., 2009). In most cases, diabetic patients with low literacy are more likely to African American, older with lower income as well as educational attainment (Osborn, Cavanaugh & Kripalani, 2010). Additionally, this group has a less knowledge specific on diabetes (Cavanaugh et al., 2009). Low numeracy skill is common among diabetic ethnic minority groups (Osborn, Cavanaugh & Kripalani, 2010). Low health literacy, as well as numeracy, is widespread with approximately one in every three Americans affected (Osborn, Cavanaugh & Kripalani, 2010). Health literacy is essential for individuals to take control and manage own health. While considering diabetes, patients affected with low health literacy are faced with the difficulty to understand the disease, are less involved in self-care initiatives, and have inadequate glycemic control (Kandula et al., 2009). In self-management of diabetes, people are responsible for several activities, which become a challenge with inadequate health literacy. The activities include adhering...
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...Access to health care is limited in the rural setting so it becomes imperative to educate the patient regarding their illness, treatments, management, medications and when to seek medical assistance. Providing this information to the patient and educating them, the patient is better able to self-manage their condition. Kouame (2010), identified the key challenges facing the rural population as: low population density, limited to no services, disproportionate numbers of elderly, low-income, and minorities, social isolation and a high incidents of chronic illnesses. Health promotion is defined as the process of enabling people to increase control over and improved their health. Improving health literacy is key in empowering the rural community...
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...this global health epidemic is only expected to worsen in the coming decades. One quantitative research study aims to improve patient outcomes specifically related to proper control of blood glucose level, by linking patient outcomes with health literacy and patient trust. A quantitative study consisting of a convenience sample of 102 subjects from two urban health care centers was used. Patient demographics, socioeconomic status, and diabetes related knowledge, and depression were measured. The results of this study are mixed in supporting the hypothesis that lower health literacy directly impacts glycemic control. The 2010 journal article titled, “Impact of health literacy and patient trust on glycemic control in urban USA population” from Nursing Health and Sciences, hypothesizes a direct relationship between a patient’s overall health literacy and the ability to maintain glycemic control. The study’s intent is to examine questions related to health literacy and a patient’s trust in their healthcare provider to make a connection to how well the subjects managed glycemic control. Questions related to potential depression are also relevant. Author, Josephine M. Mancuso, PhD, ANP-BC from Marquette University, has published articles in the following nursing journals: Journal Of Nursing Care Quality, Journal Of Professional Nursing: Official Journal Of The American Association Of Colleges Of Nursing, Western Journal Of Nursing Research, and Nursing & Health Sciences...
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...Assessing Health Literacy Kristin Greer The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences NUR150 March 28, 2011 Assessing Health Literacy When a registered nurse gets a new client, the nursing process begins with assessing the client. Initial assessment establishes a complete database for problem identification and care planning (Taylor, 2008). There are many issues that can come about if the initial assessment doesn’t consider all aspects of a client’s health including health literacy. United States Department of Health and Human Services defined the term health literacy as "the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions” (Cornett, 2009, p.2). Health literacy is a key concept for a nurse to understand to perform adequate client assessments to enhance client outcome. The client has the right to understand health literacy in order to obtain, use, and interpret their given medical instructions for the follow-up of their treatments. Baker argues that it is unfortunate that patients with limited health literacy are often considered noncompliant, when the real problem is a low level of health literacy (as cited in Cornett, 2009, p. 1). During care the nurse needs to obtain methods to assess the client’s health literacy level to address any low health literacy issues. Methods to assess a patient’s health literacy can be very simple but also can be technically...
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...Poor health literacy is a “silent epidemic” that challenges the functioning of the healthcare system. Low health literacy levels are associated with higher risks of hospitalization, inability to manage health conditions, poor health outcomes, and inability to seek proper treatment and understand options available (Palumbo, 2015). Those with inadequate health literacy are more likely to be poor and uninsured (Levy & Janke, 2016). According to a study done by Pati et al. (2010) concerning maternal health literacy, children whose mothers had poor health literacy were much less likely to participate in welfare programs they were eligible for. 12.7% of people in the United States are living in poverty (Semega, Fontenot, & Kollar, 2017), yet those...
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...beneficial for health care team patients and their families but also and the community. The use informatics in nursing is so vital in every day work. As a nursing assistant for many years I have seen that without informatics and technology health system would not be as successful as it is today. Informatics technology improves communication among health care providers, research, documentation, diagnosis, treatment, education and error reduction in health care settings. With the constant stress in health care setting it would have been more stressful for nurses to...
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...research and implementation of evidence based practice in efforts to consistently provide the best care for growing populations. Nurses must be able to utilize research provided and critique this information with a degree of understanding that allows the nurse to interpret the knowledge gained in regards to the studied populations. Furthermore, the credibility and relevance of the study is equally important in the decision to trust its application in current best practice issues. This study states trust and depression are issues that cause difficulties with glycemic control. The purpose of this paper is to critique the quantitative study and offer a critical synopsis of the research presented. PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcomes) is a type of model used to aid in framing questions for the research study. It helps to define questions that will support the specific population being studied and aids the reviewers in finding relevant information and evidence within the literature (Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois [UIC], 2012). The population studied was uninsured patients with diabetes. In considering the intervention and comparison, the goal of the study was to link health literacy and patient trust factors as predictors of glycemic control. Other factors that were considered were: socioeconomic status, diabetic knowledge, self-care activities, and depression (Mancuso, 2010). The outcome of the study suggests that trust and depression...
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