Health Literacy (Schwartz)

Question 1

defn

Answer 1

level of knowledge, person skills, and confidence to take action to improve personal and community health by changing personal lifestyles and living conditions

cognitive and social skills

Question 2

levels

Answer 2

proficient
Intermediate
Basic-
Below basic

Question 3

Proficient

Answer 3

calculate the employee’s share of health insurance costs given a table of montly costs. Can search a complex document to define a specific medical term

Question 4

Intermediate literacy

Answer 4

• determine healthy weight range for a person of a certain height given a graph which relates heigh and weight to BMI. Find age range in which a child should receive a vaccine using a chart

Question 5

Basic literacy

Answer 5

give 2 reasons why a person with no symptoms should be tested for a disease, based on a clearly written pamplhet. Explain why it is difficult for people to know if they have a specific chronic condition after reading a basic article about the condition

Question 6

below basic literacy

Answer 6

• ID what is ok to drink before a medical test, based on a set of short instructions. Circle the date of a medical appt on a hospital appt slip

Question 7

Pts with limited health literacy are

Answer 7

2x as likely to be admitted on ER visits
5x more likely to take medication incorrectly
7x more likely to miss appts
Engage in more risky behaviors

Question 8

costs of limited health literacy

Answer 8

medicaid cotsts - average for all is $3,000

enrollees with limited health literacy– $11k

$73 billion in extra medicaid costs

Question 9

How can you tell?

Answer 9

Eyes wander over page
lack of interest in written materials
frustration, impatience with forms and handouts
incorrect or incomplete forms
look at pills rather than label
deer-in-headlights
bringing someone else in with them
hone your instincts and leverage experience

Assessment: formal- Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine
Test of Functional health literacy in Adults

informal- what do you like to read? how often do you read? These directions are pretty confusing- How can I help you?

Question 10

strategies for mitigating

Answer 10

Universal approach (50% of patients have limited literacy)

ask me 3 (What is my main problem? What do I need to do? Why is it important that I do this?)

Teach back- this is complicated, not sure I did a great job explaining. Please tell me what you are going to do next so that I know I explained it well enough?

self-efficacy (empowerment, support, alliance)

meaningfulness

context