Health Literacy
From LiteracyTentWiki
Contents |
Welcome to the Health Literacy Area!
What's NEW in this area?
New bill before the senate: The National Health Literacy Act of 2007
December 6: Senator Coleman plans to introduce legislation for the National Health Literacy Act of 2007. This bill seeks to advance our public's health literacy, and has bi-partisan support for introduction from Senator Harkin.
Want to help? Send letters of support within the week!
You can read the draft of the bill at the following link: http://foundation.acponline.org/
Research
- The Health Literacy of America's Adults: Results from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy
- Bringing Health Literacy Research to Practice (2005)
- Evidence Report: Health and Literacy (2004)
- Institute of Medicine (IOM) Health Literacy Report (2004)
- Literacy and Health in America (2004)
- Current Bibliographies in Medicine/Health Literacy 2004-1: Understanding Health Literacy and its Barriers
- The National Library of Medicine
- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/cbm/healthliteracybarriers.html
- Current Bibliography in Medicine: Health Literacy (2000)
- The National Library of Medicine
- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/archive//20061214/pubs/cbm/hliteracy.html
- Empowerment Health Education in Adult Literacy: A Guide for Public Health and Adult Literacy Practitioners, Policy Makers and Funders (1997)
- NCSALL Research Reports
- http://www.gse.harvard.edu/%7Encsall/research/index.html
- NCSALL Report #5:
- Integrating Health and Literacy: Adult Educator's Experiences (1998)
- by Rima Rudd
- NCSALL Report #8:
- Adult Educators' Perceptions of Health Issues and Topics in Adult Basic Education Programs (1999)
- by Rima Rudd and Barbara Moeykens
- NCSALL Report #9:
- Findings From a National Survey of State Directors of Adult Education (1999)
- by Rima Rudd, L. Zahner, & M. Banh
- NCSALL Report #14:
- An Overview of Medical and Public Health Literature Addressing Literacy Issues: An Annotated Bibliography (2002)
- by Rima Rudd, Tayla Colton, and Robin Schacht
- NCSALL Report #5:
Resources
- THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS FOUNDATION: ANNUAL NATIONAL HEALTH COMMUNICATION CONFERENCE SERIES
- Visit: http://foundation.acponline.org/hl/conferences.htm
- The ACP Foundation conducts annual national health communication conferences, convening panels of experts from all levels of the health care system to address issues in health communication. After each conference, the Foundation publishes a report summarizing the key messages for broad distribution. In addition, each conference is evaluated by its participants in order to assist the Foundation in designing the topic and format of the next conference, as well as identifying potential Health Communication Initiative projects.
- New!! The National Library of Medicine's Special Query page for Health Literacy
- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/services/health_literacy.html
- You can click on the hotlink that says MEDLINE/PubMed health literacy search to run an up-to-date PubMed/MEDLINE
- Understanding Health Literacy: Implications for Medicine and Public Health
- Joanne G. Schwartzberg, MD, Jonathan B. VanGeest, PhD, Claire C. Wang, MD.
- Aims to help physicians and other health care practitioners improve the quality of care for patients who are now at a disadvantage in communications regarding medications, tests, procedures, and informed consent. Provides an overview of health literacy in health care. Patient-physician communications are examined, and issues involving health care delivery are discussed. Major surveys of literacy are summarized and the most commonly used health literacy tests are analyzed. Patients’ use of the internet to find health information is explored. This book provides examples of communication problems and offers samples of clear and simplified communication with patients.
- Available from the American Medical Association Bookstore website at http://www.amabookstore.com
- Advancing Health Literacy: A Framework for Understanding and Action.
- Zarcadoolas, C., Pleasant, A., & Greer, D. (2006). Jossey-Bass: San Francisco, CA.
- Available at Amazon.com
- (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0787984337/sr=8-1/qid=1154045130/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-7022731-3268930?ie=UTF8)
- and many other online booksellers.
- Advancing Health Literacy addresses the crisis in health literacy in the United States and around the world. This book thoroughly examines the critical role of literacy in public health and outlines a practical, effective model that bridges the gap between health education, health promotion, and health communication. Step by step, the authors outline the theory and practice of health literacy from a public health perspective. This comprehensive resource includes the history of health literacy, theoretical foundations of health and language literacy, the role of the media, a series of case studies on important topics including prenatal care, anthrax, HIV/AIDS, genomics, and diabetes. The book concludes with a series of practical guidelines for the development and assessment of health communications materials. Also included are essential techniques needed to help people make informed decisions, advocate for themselves and their community, mitigate risk, and live healthier lives.
- Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message
- Osborne, H (2004). Jones & Bartlett Publishers: Sudbury, MA.
- Available from the Health Literacy Consulting website at http://www.healthliteracy.com from the publisher's website at :http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763745502 or most online bookstores.
- This award-winning handbook is designed for the busy health professional. Filled with ideas and strategies that can be used in everyday practice, Health Literacy from A to Z is a first-of-its-kind resource. Learn the key principles and strategies of effective health communication presented in a simple, informal manner by one of the nation’s leading experts in health literacy.
- Health Literacy Studies
- http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/
- Health Literacy Studies is located in the Department of Society, Human Development, and Health at the Harvard School of Public Health and is part of the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy, with Dr. Rima Rudd as Principal Investigator.
- We are engaged in a variety of research efforts focused on communication and literacy skills. We are interested in exploring the pathways from education to health outcomes. We examine literacy-related barriers to a variety of health services and care and work with researchers in adult education to identify skills needed to access programs and services, manage chronic diseases, and participate in disease prevention activities. Our work is based in community, public health, health care, and adult education settings. Our goal is to help reduce health disparities.
- This site is designed for professionals in health and education who are interested in health literacy. It contains materials you may find useful for your work.
- Quick Guide to Health Literacy
- From the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
- http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/default.htm
- This is a reference for professionals interested in health literacy. The strategies discussed in the guide reflect the current body of research in health literacy and health communication. These strategies include:
- -improving the usability of health information;
- -improving the usability of health services;
- -building knowledge to improve health decision-making; and
- -advocating for health literacy improvement.
- Family Health and Literacy
- From World Education, Inc.
- http://www.worlded.org/us/health/docs/family
- This guide to easy-to-read health materials and websites is for health educators and adult literacy practitioners alike. It lists resources to teach health to families with lower literacy skills, but also discusses how to integrate health and literacy education, how to get started and engage adult learners, and how to build connections between literacy programs and local health services.
- Hard copies are also available free of charge for a limited time.
- Please contact: Leah_Peterson@worlded.org
- The Health & Literacy Special Collection
- AMA Foundation Health Literacy Initiative
- Ask Me 3
- Current Bibliographies in Medicine/Health Literacy
- Medical Library Association Health Information Literacy
- Pfizer Clear Health Communication Initiative
- HALL/NCSALL Teaching and Training Materials
- Training Guide: Health Literacy Study Circle+ Facilitators Training: http://www.ncsall.net/?id=1169
- Health Literacy Study Circles+
- Skills for Health Care Access and Navigation: http://www.ncsall.net/index.php?id=891
- Skills for Chronic Disease Management: http://www.ncsall.net/?id=1058
- Health Literacy Public Health Forums
- Partners for Action: http://www.ncsall.net/?id=899
- Partners for Action: http://www.ncsall.net/?id=899
- The Health Literacy Environment of Hospitals and Health Centers
- Partners for Action: Making Your Healthcare Facility Literacy-Friendly: http://www.ncsall.net/?id=1163
- Partners for Action: Making Your Healthcare Facility Literacy-Friendly: http://www.ncsall.net/?id=1163
- Training Guide: Health Literacy Study Circle+ Facilitators Training: http://www.ncsall.net/?id=1169
- Expecting the Best
A curriculum designed for high beginner/low intermediate ESL students http://www.expectingthebest.org
Discussions
The discussions below are from the Health Literacy Discussion List. Join it for free at the following link:
http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/healthliteracy
Julie McKinney
Discussion List Moderator
jmckinney@worlded.org
The Health Literacy Discussion List is celebrating Health Literacy Month with this discussion...
October 15-22, 2007, Panel Discussion: Communication Between Patients and Health Care Providers.
Panelists included adult learners, teachers, health care providers and health educators. For more information, see below. The entire discussion will be added soon to the page below.
Panel Discussion: Communication Between Patients and Health Care Providers: October 15 - 22, 2007
[Health Literacy Results from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy NAAL: Sept. 17-24, 2007]
Using Pictures for Low Literacy Health Education Materials: Jan. 8-12, 2007
Using the Health Literacy Study Circles: June 19-23, 2006
Promising Practices
These are accounts of successful and innovative projects or collaborations being done around the country to address health literacy issues. Click on the title to read about each project.
- "Promising Practices for Patient-Centered Communication with Vulnerable Populations: Examples from Eight Hospitals."
- By Matthew Wynia and Jennifer Matiasek
- http://www.cmwf.org/usr_doc/Wynia_promisingpracticespatientcentered_947.pdf
If you have a "promising practice" to share, please add it in, or contact:
Julie McKinney
Health Literacy topic area leader
jmckinney@worlded.org
Stories from Learners and Patients
These are stories from adult literacy learners and others about communication or navigation experiences within the health system. What makes these interactions challenging? What makes them successful? If you, your student, or your patient has a story to share, please add it in, or contact Julie McKinney at: jmckinney@worlded.org.
There is also a section called 'How Long-term Health Care Facilities Work', which includes stories by patients, their families and friends about an experience that taught them how the health organization works, how to get better service, or what questions to ask.
Stories from Learners and Patients
[How Long-term Health Care Facilities Work]
Announcements & Upcoming Events
- Health Literacy Institutes
June 10-13, 2007
October 28-31, 2007
Learn plain language skills to communicate your health messages quickly and clearly to diverse consumer audiences. The Institute is designed for non-profits, government agencies, educational institutions, and health systems.
University of New England Office of Continuing Medical Education
Tel: 207-602-2589
Contact Email: mbissonnette@une.edu
Event URL: http://www.healthliteracyinstitute.net/
- Health Literacy Month
October 1-31, 2007
Health Literacy Month, celebrated each October, is a time when health literacy advocates around the world promote the importance of understandable health information.
For more information, ideas and a place to share your story, go to:
http://www.healthliteracy.com/hlmonth/
- The American College of Physicians Foundation's 2007 Sixth Annual National Health Communication Conference: Advances in Health Literacy
Co-sponsored by the Institute of Medicine, Advances in Health Literacy, will take place on November 28, 2007 at the National Academy of Sciences Building located on 2100 C Street NW, Washington, DC
For more information please visit: http://foundation.acponline.org/hl/hcc2007.htm
