...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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...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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...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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...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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...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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...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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...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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...I agree with you that health literacy is a serious and real problem in the health care field. Limited health literacy affects a patient's entire health care experience. Patients with low health literacy are more likely to miss preventive measures, which will most likely require rehospitalization. It is imperative for nurses to avoid jargons and use simple language to get the message across. While Henderson’s theory supports nursing as a profession in assisting patients who are well or sick and ensuring 14 basic needs, Orem’s theory is more contemporary where a nurse engages patient in plan of care and guides the patient to be self-dependent in the acquisition of knowledge and skills. Orem’s theory supports that client has the primary responsibility of personal health, with the nurse acting as a guide. Furthermore as long as self-care abilities equal or exceed self-care demands, such patients have no need for nursing ( Hohdorf,2010). However, if self –care deficit is recognized ,nurses should individualize care based on patient situation and must clearly communicate in order to improve and coordinate patient care. In order to improve and coordinate patient care, decisions made by nurses must be individualized to the patient situation, information collected by nurses must be clearly communicated to other health care providers and nurses must actively intervene and suppor Hohdorf, M. (2010). Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory in Ingolstadt -- an...
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...1 An Analysis of African American Culture in the Health and Human Services Setting Introduction Communication has often been defined by scholar as the process by which people send messages and generate meanings across various contexts, cultures, and media. The process of communicating does not stop; it occurs cycle after cycle. Whether through verbal or non-verbal messages, the transaction takes place and is inevitable, named by scholars as The Principle of Communication Inevitability. Recognizing that communication will exist, whether intentional or not, it is important to understand the various areas of our life where communication may be vital to the success of the structure. One important area is focused on human welfare—medical, physical, emotionally, mentally, and financially—of children and adults. The method in which health and human service workers communicate with the people whom they serve is one that must be studied, implemented, and constantly improved. Health and human service workers are focused on the quality of life for an individual. They are not present to meet the wants out of life. The ultimate focus is rendering services that are conducive to one’s ability to live. Whether communicating good or bad news, professionals, patients, and clients have mutual responsibility for effective sending and receiving messages. People belong to certain demographics that shape who they are, how they feel, how they learn, their exposure to certain aspects of life...
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...Issues in Patient Care Student Name School Name ABSTRACT Healthcare transformation is recently an issue which has attracted the public attention in the global world and is being discussed not only in statehouses but also in public. Though it is believed that any rising issue in patients should be catered in the health checks but the aspect can also be undertaken in the homes. In essence, the care of patients should be prioritized and emphasized by the practioneers to be done in homes, since it is cost effective and a better component reform effort undertaken (Guadagnino, 2008) Patients should be empowered in taking care of their health without merely depending on the decision given by the health practioneers. Health issue is a critical subject which should be prioritized and taken with a lot of caution since it means one contemplating between life and death. Therefore, apart from one being empowered to take care of him/herself it is also vital for one to adhere to the prescriptions and steps given by the health checks (Guadagnino, 2008) ISSUES IN PATIENT CARE A patient is therefore obliged to take care of his or her health regardless of the circumstances and situations which they encounter and thus the issues involved in the patient care should not be a hindrance towards the practioneers taking an extra care to the patients. A considerate care to the patients should therefore be an imperative and vital aspect and thus the practioneers...
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...understand the medical professionals and could not follow through with your own treatment. Many of the hospitals in our area feel that by providing an interpreter there will always be clear communication between the staff and patients. This is not so. We deal with many different cultures on a daily basis and are hard to communicate effectively. The words we use can mean something different to patients of other cultures and as nurses we need to remember this ("Cultural barriers to effective communication", 2010). The potential for misunderstandings increases when the languages are different, and translation has to be used to communicate ("Cultural barriers to effective communication", 2010). There have been many times when non health care...
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...IN HOME HEALTH CARE: PHT 7975. DR. SCOTT S. HARP, PT, PhD, DPT. JUNE 8, 2014 TABLE OF CONTENT Cover page.......................................................................................................................................1 Table of content...............................................................................................................................2 Types of communication in home health........................................................................................3 Comparing communication in acute care setting vs. home health..................................................4 Challenges physical therapy/physical therapy assistant team need to overcome in home health...............................................................................................................................................4 Timeframes for initial telephone contact and assessment visit.......................................................6 Communication challenges between different types of provider during transition of care............7 Documentation comparism between home health and acute care setting......................................8 Reason for documentation differences between home health and acute care setting.....................9 References.....................................................................................................................................10 TYPES OF COMMUNICATION IN HOME HEALTH Communication...
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