All Relevant Resources for New Zealanders
Resource: The Health Literacy of America’s Adults: Results from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy
This document, published by the United States National Center for Education Statistics, is a report on the results of the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy.
Resource: “This does my head in”. Ethnographic study of self-management by people with diabetes
This study by Hinder & Greenhalgh (2012) provides a richer understanding of how people live with diabetes and why self-management is challenging for some. They find that self-management of diabetes is physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially demanding, and without support can be a difficult task to undertake.
Resource: A Maturing Partnership
In this article by Rudd (2002) she traces early innovations in the connection between literacy and health, through some current activities, and provides some suggestions for next steps in the development.
Resource: A Systematic Review of Asthma and Health Literacy: A Cultural-Ethnic Perspective in Canada
In order to find links between asthma and health literacy in a cultural/ethnicity perspective, Poureslami et al (2007) performed a systematic review of all publications on the topic of asthma, health, and literacy among cultural groups from 1980 to 2006 using the Internet and journals. They conclude that there is an urgent need to better define the impact of cultural and ethnic issues in the management of asthma in Canada. Appropriately designed studies should better define the barriers in the optimal delivery of asthma care influenced by these parameters.
Resource: Adequate health literacy is associated with higher heart failure knowledge and self care confidence in hospitalized patients
The purpose of this study by Dennison et al (2011) was to examine prevalence of inadequate health literacy; reliability of the Dutch Heart Failure Knowledge Scale (DHFKS) and Self Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI); and differences in heart failure (HF) knowledge, HF self care, and 30-day readmission rate by health literacy level among patients hospitalized with HF. Those with adequate health literacy were younger and had higher education level, HF knowledge scores, and HF self care confidence compared to those with marginal or inadequate health literacy. Self care maintenance and management scores and 30-day readmission rate did not differ by health literacy level.
Resource: AHRQ Patient Question Sheet
A question sheet for helping patients effectively communicate with their doctors. Produced by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Also see: Be More Involved in Your Healthcare: Tips for Patients and AHRQ Question Builder – resource for patients
Resource: AHRQ Question Builder – resource for patients
Be prepared for your next medical appointment. Create a list of questions that you can take with you whether you are getting a checkup, talking about a problem or health condition, getting a prescription, or discussing a medical test or surgery. Whatever the reason for your visit, it is important to be prepared. With the Question Builder, it is easy. Also see: Be More Involved in Your Healthcare: Tips for Patients and AHRQ Patient Question Sheet
This site, commissioned by the National Patient Safety Foundation in the U.S., is a patient education programme designed to promote better communication with our health professionals. It is a widely phrased concept, and is designed for both patient and health professionals.
Resource: Be More Involved in Your Healthcare: Tips for Patients
A brochure from the US Agency for Health Research and Quality which gives tips to use before, during, and after a medical appointment to make sure you get the best possible care. Also see: AHRQ Patient Question Sheet and AHRQ Question Builder – resource for patients
Resource: Brief Questions to Identify Patients With Inadequate Health Literacy
The objective of this study by Wallace et al (2006) was to evaluate 3 candidate questions to determine their accuracy in identifying patients with limited or marginal health literacy skills. The authors tested 305 English-speaking adults ising REALM, concluding that a singluar screening question may be sufficient for detecting limited and marginal health literacy skills in clinic populations.
Resource: Caring for Your Heart: Living Well with Heart Failure
A guide for everyday people who have experienced heart failure about how to prevent further attacks and maintain good health. Produced by the North Carolina Program on Health Literacy (2012)
Resource: Celebrity Diagnosis
This website contains information about various celebrities and their illnesses, raising awareness and understanding of the medical issues around these illnesses.
Resource: Clear Communication: An NIH Health Literacy Initiative
Information pertaining to the NIH Health Literacy Initiative "Clear Communication". Information and resources are provided under the following headings: health literacy, plain language, clear and simple, cultural competency, and talking to your doctor.
Resource: Clinical, classroom, or personal education: attitudes about health literacy
This study by Logan (2007) explores how diverse attitudes about health literacy are assessed by medical librarians and other health care professionals. The author concludes that each factor's attitudes about the appropriate educational venue to initiate health literacy activities are different and somewhat mutually exclusive. This suggests that health literacy is seen through different perceptual frameworks that represent a possible source of professional disagreement.
Resource: Deciphering Medspeak
This website of the Medical Library Association in the United States provides several brochures which include glossaries or alternative words for several chronic illnesses, and offer plain language definitions of common phrases associated with those diseases.
Resource: Development and early implementation of The Bigger Picture, a youth-targeted public health literacy campaign to prevent type 2 diabetes – 2014 [US]
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is rapidly rising, especially among minority and low-income youth. There is an unmet need to engage youth in identifying solutions to reverse this trajectory. Social marketing campaigns and entertainment education are effective forms of health communication for engaging populations in health-promoting behaviors. Critical to curbing the epidemic is moving the diabetes conversation away from individual behavior alone and toward a socioecologic perspective using a public health literacy framework. This article, by Rogers et al (2014), describes the development and implementation of The Bigger Picture - a type 2 diabetes prevention campaign created by and targeted at minority, low-income and at-risk youth. This health communication campaign uses a public health literacy framework with targeted, relevant, and compelling messaging. The researchers report that The Bigger Picture appears to be a promising vehicle for increasing knowledge of and attitudes about preventing type 2 diabetes, change social norms, and motivate participation in health-promoting initiatives. Examples of the campaign messages can be found in the videos made by The Bigger Picture youth poets: http://youthspeaks.org/thebiggerpicture/watch/
Resource: Do You Know What Your Doctor Is Talking About?
This news story from the NY Times is written by an experienced physician and details her experience with a low health literacy patient and the impact of not ensuring the patient understood medical advice.
Resource: E-Book: Teaching Patients with Low Literacy Skills
This practical text guides the reader in developing the necessary tools for teaching those patients with limited literacy skills. Readers will learn proven strategies for evaluating comprehension and teaching patients using written materials, tapes, video, computer aided instruction, visuals, and graphics. An abundance of case studies helps to demonstrate the application of teaching/learning theory to actual practice. Readers will also explore literacy issues in health care as well as the cultural impact on comprehension.
Resource: Eating Well, Living Well: Nutrition Education for Adult ESOL Programs
This is an interactive online tool for adult ESOL learners about nutrition and eating a balanced diet, with information for trainers as well.
Resource: Effects of Writing about Stressful Experiences in Patients with Asthma or Rheumatoid Arthritis
This is a transcript of an interview of a psychologist who studied how patients with chronic illness often reduced their symptoms by writing about their experiences.