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Showing results for tags 'Health literacy'.
Found 51 results
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Content ArticlePatient Voices Matter (PVM), a lived experience advisory panel set up by The Patients Association, has highlighted how important it is to make information accessible to all potential users. In this blog, Sarah Tilsed Head of Patient Partnership, and Ray, a member of PVM, talk about the impact of jargon on health inequalities and the accessibility of health services. They also discuss their presentation in August 2022 to the NHS Health Inequalities Improvement Network.
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Content ArticleUnderstanding health information (health literacy) is essential for taking medications correctly, knowing which health services to use and managing long-term conditions. Around half the population struggles to understand health information, and the most disadvantaged groups in society are most likely to have limited health literacy. Improving health literacy is therefore key to tackling health inequalities and improving health outcomes for everyone. This resource collection from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) brings together messages from research highlighted in NIHR Alert summaries. It includes research on the impact of unclear health messages, how we can help people understand health information and which groups of the population may need extra support.
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Content ArticleHealth literacy is about people having enough knowledge, understanding, skills and confidence to use health information, be active partners in their care and navigate health and social care systems. Health literacy levels in the UK are low, with 43% of 16 to 65-year-olds in England struggling with text-based health information and 61% unable to understand health information that includes both text and numbers. This e-learning resource by Health Education England and NHS Scotland aims to help people working in health and social care understand and promote health literacy.
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Content ArticleHealth literacy describes "the personal characteristics and social resources needed for individuals and communities to access, understand, appraise and use information and services to make decisions about health." The National Health Literacy Community of Practice provides resources for healthcare staff about health literacy. On this online platform, the community shares research and best practice, offers support for training and discusses ideas about health literacy. Resources include a Health Literacy GeoData tool which provides an estimate of the percentage of a local authority population with low health literacy and numeracy.
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Content ArticleThe Schools for Health in Europe network foundation (SHE) aims to improve the health of children and young people in Europe, including reducing health inequalities, through a specific setting focus on schools. This factsheet by SHE provides an overview of current evidence on health literacy with a specific focus on schools, pupils, and educational staff. It contains information and data on: Health literacy among school-aged children The interplay between health literacy, health and education Health literacy in schools in the WHO European Region A future avenue for health literacy in schools
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Content Article
Belfast Healthy Cities: Pharmacy Schools Programme (2021)
Patient-Safety-Learning posted an article in Medication
The Pharmacy Schools Programme is an innovative teaching resource developed by Belfast Healthy Cities. Using a health literacy approach, it is designed to be used in primary schools in Northern Ireland to help educate children about self-care, medication safety and community pharmacy services. -
Content Article'Deep End’ general practices serve communities in the most socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. The analogy of the deep end of the swimming pool to describe how a one size fits all funding model for NHS GP practices regardless of area-based differences in patient needs leaves health professionals in high-deprivation places treading water to stay afloat. Lincolnshire’s East Coast is now amongst the most deprived communities in the UK. This in-depth article in BJGP Life reports on an event for local healthcare professionals and academic researchers hosted by First Coastal Primary Care Network (FCPCN) in November 2021, in Skegness, Lincolnshire. The aim of the event was to discuss the challenges that health professionals working within the FCPCN face with a focus on inequities and the experiences of the healthcare workforce.
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Content ArticleLanguage barriers, reduced self-advocacy, lower health literacy and biased care may hinder the diagnostic process. This US study in BMJ Quality & Safety looks at patient-reported diagnostic errors, what contributes to them and the impact they have, and examines the differences between respondents with limited English-language health literacy or disadvantaged socioeconomic position, and their counterparts. The authors conclude that: interpreter access should be viewed as a diagnostic safety imperative. social determinants affecting care access and affordability should be routinely addressed as part of the diagnostic process. patients and their families should be encouraged to access and update their medical records.
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Content Article
The Health Literacy Place toolkit
Patient-Safety-Learning posted an article in Health inequalities
It is easy to underestimate people’s health literacy needs, because those needs can be hidden or people can be reluctant to admit that they haven’t understood the information they have been given. This toolkit by The Health Literacy Place contains a range of resources to help healthcare professionals better understand and meet the health literacy needs of their patients. -
Event
Use of patient records and data
Patient Safety Learning posted an event in Community Calendar
This conference from the Westminster forum will examine the next steps for the use of patient records and data within the NHS and clinical research. The agenda also looks at the opportunities for improved patient engagement in their care, including through the NHS app which enables easily to access their own records. Speakers and other delegates will share experience, latest thinking on best practice, and views on the way forward for addressing key issues. Areas for discussion include: patient data use in healthcare delivery - the current landscape, and priorities for the future electronic health records - including their role in supporting integrated care systems clinical research - the next steps for utilising patient data, and developing best practice digital health - patient data collection, use and quality, and innovation priorities population health - achieving the potential of data collection to improve outcomes security - including transparency on patient data use public trust - digital health literacy and patient control of their own care plans the NHS app - its role in the future of patient-centred healthcare. Register -
Content ArticleMany asylum seekers struggle to access healthcare when they come to the UK due to the extensive paperwork needed to register with primary care and other services. Many new arrivals have complex health needs for which current NHS healthcare systems struggle to offer appropriate care, exacerbating the trauma already experienced by many of these vulnerable people and families. In this article for The BMJ, the authors look at how how a model response to this issue was developed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Content Article
The 12 days of digital patient safety
Clive Flashman posted an article in Digital health and care service provision
A couple of weeks ago, I presented some of the ideas I’ve had around digital clinical safety. This was seasonally branded, ‘The 12 days of Digital Patient Safety’. The 12 issues that were on my list comprised: AI – regulation, ethics and testing. Patient safety not built into the innovation process (co-design and co-production with patients is required). Patient safety (in use) not effectively built into the digital health compliance systems. Poor user experience (design). The safety of medical devices, e.g. remote hacking. Privacy and consent around data. Fragmentation of patient records and data. Lack of interoperability. Cybersecurity. Patient digital and health literacy. Clinician attitudes and knowledge of digital technologies. The barriers to EHR integration (and poor use of patient-generated data). There was only time on the webinar to cover points 2, 3, 6 and 10; I hope that we can have further session in 2022 where we can discuss the others. -
Content ArticleShared decision making describes the way in which patients and their healthcare providers work together to decide treatment, management or self-management support goals. It includes sharing information about a patient’s options and preferred outcomes. The goal is for patient and professional to agree treatment, or no treatment. This webinar hosted by The Patients' Association discusses what makes shared decision making effective, barriers for staff and patients and research on ways to improve the practice.
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Content Article
Virtual Patient programme online training (2021)
Patient-Safety-Learning posted an article in Patient engagement
This Virtual Patient programme for healthcare professionals allows users to specify an environment, patient and therapeutic area to create a ‘case’ to practise and hone clinical and communications skills. -
Content Article
Patient Information Forum (PIF) have launched a new website to help people find trusted health information. The PIF TICK website allows members of the public to see which organisations have the PIF TICK – the UK quality mark for health information – and offers advice on how to find trust health information. -
Content ArticlePatients are commonly given written information, for example in the form of leaflets; however, they often do not retain it and poor literacy is a barrier for many. To address this, working in partnership with a local university, a pre-operative assessment unit designed and developed video animations for patients to illustrate preparation for surgery. The aim was to enhance the accessibility and retention of information to improve patient safety and experience.
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Content ArticleHealth literacy is a person’s ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions. Not surprisingly, many Americans do not have levels of health literacy that allow them to truly understand their care or take appropriate actions to improve their health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 9 out of 10 adults have difficulty understanding health information when it is complex or unfamiliar. In this blog, Regina Hoffman, Executive Director of Pennsylvania’s Patient Safety Authority, outlines the steps your organisation can take to fulfill its role in closing the gap on health literacy.
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Content ArticleGood patient communication is key, particularly when a patient is waiting for planned care or treatment. From referral by a primary care clinician through to discharge from secondary care – clear, accessible communication is vital throughout. The Elective Recovery Delivery Plan commits to providing better information and support to patients. As we begin to implement new, innovative ways of delivering healthcare, it is more important than ever that patients feel confident they are supported throughout their journey. Prolonged periods of industrial action and continuing pressures have inevitably had an impact on planned care. In this context, it is important that integrated care boards (ICBs) and providers do all they can to offer support to those affected by delays, including with patient communications. This guide sets out key communication principles to help providers deliver personalised, patient-centred communications. It includes considerations for communicating to patients about new models of care as well as helpful information and resources.
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Content ArticleMany working age adults in the UK lack skills to understand and use information on health and wellbeing. Health literacy skills are lacking in 43% of the population and numeracy skills in 61%. This gap between skills and the complexity of health information leaves millions excluded from making informed decisions about their health, compounding existing health inequalities. COVID-19 accelerated the digital ambition of the NHS Long Term Plan. In the four weeks to 12 April 2020, 71% of routine GP consultations were delivered remotely, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock has said he wants this trend to continue and it is likely remote consultations will be part of the new normal. However, nine million people lack digital skills, 8% are not connected and 66% with online access do not use the internet or digital tools to support their health. In 2019 there was already concern that people with low health literacy and those without access, skills or motivation to use digital tools would be left behind in a digital first NHS. Late in 2019 the Patient Information Forum (PIF) ran a survey of its membership about their action on health and digital literacy. Its findings and recommendations have been made more urgent by the inequalities exposed by the pandemic.
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Content ArticleThe health literacy field has evolved over several decades. Its initial focus was on individuals who had poor literacy skills. Now there is a broad recognition that everyone—not just those with limited literacy—face challenges in understanding health information and navigating the healthcare system. Acknowledging that the healthcare system is overly complex, healthcare organisations have started to take responsibility to ensure that everyone, especially the vulnerable, is able to find, understand, and use health information and services. The Agency for Healthcare Research Quality (AHRQ) provides national health literacy leadership. AHRQ’s health literacy work spans from developing improvement tools, to designing professional training and education, to funding and synthesising health literacy research. You can find health literacy improvement tools, educational and training, and publications on the AHRQ Health Literacy website.
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Content Article
Patient Safety Authority: Health literacy
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Improving patient safety
Structuring and presenting healthcare information that aligns with a patient’s level of understanding can help patients achieve optimal outcomes. Verbal communication strategies such as “teach back” and “Ask Me 3®” programmes and written strategies address opportunities identified in the event reports and may help improve patient understanding and engagement in their care. The Patient Safety Authority have collated guidance, resources and education tools on health literacy. -
Content Article"Over half of the disease burden in England is deemed preventable", says this report, "with one in five deaths attributed to causes that could have been avoided". It notes however, that progress has stalled on reducing the number of people with preventable illness and that compared to other high-income countries, we are underperforming. The authors call for a paradigm shift in prevention policy, from interventions that "blame and punish" to those that "empathise and assist". Regressive taxes and bans have not, they say, delivered the transformation required. Key to any new prevention strategy is the online information environment. Over 60% of British adults use the internet to check symptoms or self-diagnose, with the NHS website considered to be the most trustworthy. There is also, however, a "pernicious prevalence of false information". Polling shows that less than half of the population believe obesity is linked to cancer (misinformation), while over a third either agree that vaccinations can cause autism, or say they don't know (disinformation).
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Content ArticleQuality improvement measures can help health care organisations make health information easy to understand and health systems easy to navigate. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) obtained consensus from experts on the usefulness, meaningfulness, feasibility, and face validity of 22 measures that can help organisations seeking to become more health literate.
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Content ArticleThe Accessible Information Standard directs and defines a specific, consistent approach to identifying, recording, flagging, sharing and meeting individuals’ information and communication support needs by NHS and adult social care service providers.
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Content Article
AHRQ Pharmacy Health Literacy Center
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Medicine management
This site provides pharmacists with recently released health literacy tools and other resources from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Pharmacy health literacy is the degree to which individuals are able to obtain, process, and understand basic health and medication information and pharmacy services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Only 12% of adults have proficient health literacy (e.g., can interpret the prescription label correctly). Medication errors are likely higher with patients with limited health literacy, as they are more likely to misinterpret the prescription label information and auxiliary labels. Studies document an association between low literacy and poor health outcomes.
