Improving Health Literacy through Patient Education in a Healthcare Facility

Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?

We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.

You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

Improving Health Literacy through Patient Education in a Healthcare Facility

Health literacy is the ability of individuals to access, understand, and use health information to make informed decisions about their health. It is crucial for effective navigation in healthcare, but often an issue for vulnerable populations. This proposal intends to tackle the topic of health literacy by presenting a strategy focused on educating patients and providing resources to help augment their health literacy.

One experience in which health literacy was an issue occurred when a friend was prescribed a new medication. They were given verbal instructions on taking the medication, but they could not read the written instructions on the bottle. They could not ask the pharmacist for help as they did not speak English fluently. This experience highlights the importance of clear and accessible written instructions and the need for language and cultural sensitivity in healthcare settings (Nutbeam & Lloyd, 2021). Experience shows the importance of addressing health literacy as a social determinant of health for individuals and the healthcare system.

As a manager of a healthcare facility, one plan for addressing the issue of health literacy would be to provide patient education on the importance of health literacy and the different ways it can be improved. Patients should be encouraged to ask questions and be provided with written instructions and other resources in a language and format that is easy for them to understand. The facility could provide educational sessions for patients on navigating the healthcare system and training for healthcare professionals on communicating effectively with patients with limited health literacy. (McCorry and Mason, 2020). This plan should be regularly evaluated and updated based on feedback to improve its effectiveness.

Resources for increasing health literacy through patient education could include the following:

The National Institute of Healths website (www.nih.gov) provides patient education materials on health topics and treatment options.
The American Medical Associations website (www.ama-assn.org) offers resources on how to communicate with healthcare professionals and navigate the healthcare system.
The World Health Organizations website (www.who.int) provides information on health literacy and best practices for addressing it in healthcare settings.

Health literacy is an essential factor in promoting and maintaining good health. Educating patients and making resources available can enhance communication and assist them in taking control of their health. The proposal discussed an issue of health literacy, proposed a plan for addressing it through patient education, and provided resources for increasing health literacy.

References

McCorry, L. K., & Mason, J. (2020). Communication skills for the healthcare professional, enhanced edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Nutbeam, D., & Lloyd, J. E. (2021). Understanding and responding to health literacy as a social determinant of health. Annual Review of Public Health, 42(1), 159173. Web.

Click Here To Order Now!