...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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...Health Literacy in the Physician Practice By: Pauline Jakubiec, M.S., CPHRM Risk Management Consultant |Risk Advisory Solutions Health literacy is an important consideration according to the National Assessment for Adult Literacy when only 12% of adults are competent in health literacy. Nearly 9 out of 10 adults may lack the skills needed to manage their health and prevent disease. 14% of adults (30 million people) have below basic health literacy. 42% of these adults were more likely to report their health as poor. 28% were more likely to lack health insurance which now places them in the system (and in the office) than adults with proficient health literacy (Adult Literacy in America: A First Look at the Results of the National Adult...
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...Who doesn’t like user-friendly gadgets? I do. I want something that is easier to use and not hard to navigate around with. The concept of plain language is almost the same. Things get much harder for people who have very low health literacy when the language used are unfamiliar. These difficulties are pointed out on the CDC article which states that low health literacy can affect a person’s ability to locate health care providers and services, fill out health forms, and managing chronic diseases. This is why the use of plain language is so important since it makes it easier for most adults to communicate with providers and understand essential informations about their health. Plain language uses the words that are familiar to almost all of...
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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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...to patient and the community. A professional nurse is require to provide care and information for patient and their families. Patient and families have the right to able to understand healthcare information which would empower them to make informed decisions about their care. Improving Health literacy in healthcare settings allow greater understanding of information and knowledge which would improve patient care. Being health literate is not only about reading and learning but is about understanding health information and using it to better one’s health. Health literacy is the ability for an individual to understand health information and services in order to make appropriate decisions regarding their health. (Sewell, 2015, p. 140). For example, retrieving medication and referrals, knowing when is time to take medication, interpreting medical terminology and comparing different insurance. Individuals who are health literate would know about their insurance coverage and can use the information to understand what services are available under that policy which would empower them to make informed decisions regarding health services, which can contribute to their overall health. Health literacy is not all about the ability of the patient to read, but...
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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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...well-being. The special millennial issue contains 15 empirically minded articles by eminent authors in the field of academic psychology. This field marks a deliberate steering away from the dominant “disease model” of human functioning. In the disease model, clinical psychology had become almost exclusively a science about healing damage or controlling maladaptive impulses. In contrast, the primary purpose of positive psychology is to measure, understand, and then build human strengths and civic virtues, including hope, wisdom, creativity, courage, spirituality, responsibility, perseverance, and satisfaction. The special issue is divided into 4 sections: evolutionary perspectives, positive personal traits, implications for mental and physical health, and fostering excellence. As the editors and several authors point out, positive psychology has significant implications for improving the quality of personal and professional life through applications on both individual and societal levels. The first of the 4 sections includes 2 ambitious articles that examine positive psychology within an evolutionary framework. In “The Evolution of Happiness” David Buss offers 3 hypotheses to explain why positive states of mind are so often elusive: first, the discrepancies between modern and ancestral environments; second, mechanisms evolved that are “designed” to produce subjective distress (i.e., functional jealousy and worry); and third, competitive mechanisms evolved that function to benefit 1...
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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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...Health Literacy Assignment After reading the entire 44 page informational booklet titled "Clear Horizons" from the National Institues of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I felt impowered to quit smoking, eventhough I am not a smoker. This booklet was easy to read, covered many situations, myths, and tips on quitting. This particular booklet was geared at people who are 50 years old and older and uses a transtheorectical model or stages of making a change. I felt they did an excellant job targeting that population and really hit on some emotional asspects of being an older adult. The booklet beginnings with asking the reader about health problems they are experiencing. I personally thought this was a great eduational...
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...KNPE 237 • Although many definitions for physical literacy are similar there is no consensus between them. Only 17% of Canadians are aware of the term physical literacy. Physical literacy is referred to as the foundation of skill/tools related to cognitive, social, behavioural and fitness components. Children need these skills to develop and receive the inherent benefits of enjoyable and successful life long participation in sport and physical activity. Currently, many Canadian children are physically illiterate, and therefore, unable to lead healthy, active lifestyles. This has been evidenced by increasing rates of physical inactivity, and obesity. • Over the years there has been a demand for a universal test that measures physical literacy....
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...average population growth rate of 1.41%, this is a clear indication that this population will increase more with time. When looking at the age structure, people who are 15-64 years old make up 65% of India's population and only 30% being under 15 years of age. This clearly indicates that India is composed of a rather young population. As per the 2011 census, literacy levels stand at around 74.04% and this is a significant progress from the 14.5% rate at the time of India’s independence in 1947, though the census still reveals that the adult literacy rate in India was more than 11% lower than the average World Adult Literacy Rate of 84% (Census of India, 2011c, p.101). Despite major reforms and programs intended to develop the education system, India is still struggling with low rates of illiteracy, especially in the country’s rural parts. Different states have been experiencing different rates of increase in literacy levels, although with very high disparities caused by the different classes of the Indian society. For instance, Kerala and Mizoram states are above the national average at 82.14%, while others like Bihar have a literacy level of about 65.46%...
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...supports unemployed customers to find and sustain meaningful employment. Customers are aged between 16-64 and referred to 13-week courses from Jobcentre Plus. Many have multiple barriers to employment such as lack of recent work experience, disabilities, health problems and lack of relevant employability skills. In addition, customers often face anxiety, depression and low self-esteem, all of which impact their ability to find employment. To overcome these complex needs, CDG provides training, work experience and other support that can enable customers to achieve a better quality of life. Back to Work activities include job search; job brokerage; work experience placements; environmental and community sector placements; vocational qualifications; information, advice & guidance; pre-employment training; motivation and confidence building; literacy, numeracy and ESOL training. Role within Institutional Context The role of the Senior Personal Advisor (SPA) consists of delivering Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL Qualifications. In addition, internal and external vocational qualifications such as Security, Retail, Forklift and Construction are also organised and financed via the SPA. City & Guilds award the delivery of Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL qualifications and delivery levels range from Entry Level up to Level 1. General Sources of Funding to Lifelong Learning Major contributors to Lifelong learning Funding include the Skills Funding Agency (SFA); the Young People’s Learning...
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...the sustainable literacy mastery of one generation to the next generation. Literacy is really needed to speed up the development or the progress of a country especially in this era of globalization in which technology advance and rapid economic development requires everyone to be competent and to have good skills. Everyone should be literate and be able to read or write at least. In line of this, Hussain (2005) said: “Access to quality literacy learning opportunities and the development of literate environments are essential components of strategies for poverty reduction, equality, economic development and environmental protection, and for achieving democracy. Literacy is a fundamental human right and a prerequisite to the empowerment of the individual and development of society”. It is fully essential to social and human development in its ability to transform lives. For individuals, families, and societies alike, it is an instrument of empowerment to improve one’s health, one’s income, and one’s relationship with the world. Literacy education is one of important aspects which should be applied in order to foster an interest and latent talent in order to get that empowerment of the individual and development of society. Through informal or formal education at school, students especially can know how to read and write well. When they know how to read, they are expected to possess good knowledge by reading books or many other medias such as internet. Literacy is not obtained...
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...Academic Component Literacy is at the heart of basic education for all, and essential for eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing population growth, achieving equality and ensuring sustainable development, peace and democracy." (UNESCO, 2010) The main function of Literacy is to help people develop academically to be able succeed and communicate in everyday life, however for children with Special Educational Needs their literacy skills develop at a slower pace and they require extra help and support to develop these skills. In this piece I am going to look at what provisions can be made in the classroom that will support and help further develop the literacy skills of children with Special Educational Needs. As of 1998 many primary school teachers followed a technique proposed by the central government called The National Literacy Strategy or ‘Literacy Hour’ as it was commonly known. Literacy Hour required teachers to teach at least one hour of Literacy and one hour of numeracy every day, however in June 2009 it was announced that from 2011 Literacy Hour was no longer a requirement which gave teachers the freedom to teach Literacy how they saw appropriate. (Fisher, 2001). At first the Literacy Hour initiative came under as many people felt that it was not long enough as Literacy is such an important factor of life however it did become successful and many primary teachers still use the technique today (Fisher, 2001). However now that teachers now have freedom...
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...University of Pennsylvania, Clarion, Pennsylvania FINANCIAL LITERACY AND FINANCIAL DECISION MAKING CAPACITY: THE GENDER BALANCE ISSUE Ebiringa, O. T. and Okorafor, E.O. Department of Management Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria ABSTRACT This paper investigates the extent to which age, level of education, nature of work and experience affects the financial literacy levels of Master of Business Administration students of Federal University of Technology, Owerri Nigeria. It equally assesses the extent to which gender difference discriminates in financial decision making, as there seems to be inconclusive notion that female students are better at financial decision making than their male counterpart. Students who took a three credit hours course in Financial Economics during the 2009/2010 academic session as well as participated in a financial literacy capacity program jointly organized by GTBank Plc and SIFE a part of the continuous assessment for the course constituted the study population. Quota and simple random sampling was adopted in the selection of 165 respondents whose responses provided the primary data used for analysis. Correlation coefficients and linear regression tools were adopted for analysis. The conclusion of the study based on results obtained is that gender difference though having inverse correlation with financial literacy level is not a significant predictor of financial literacy level, implying that there is no valid evidence to substantiate...
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