Nurse’s Role in Improving the Health Literacy of Patients
Nurse’s Role in Improving the Health Literacy of Patients
In consideration of the health profession, nursing commands a unique relationship with patient health literacy (Baur, 2011). Nurses are responsible for the majority of caregiver, community, and patient communication and health education. The clinical and public health professionals should determine and develop solutions to health communication or literacy barriers that hamper individual, patient care and community health outcomes. Nursing administration, educators, practitioners and researchers have an obligation to gain knowledge of issues of health literacy (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2012).
This mandates clinicians and particularly nurses to make a choice, implement, and evaluate health literacy strategies and make patients knowledgeable and ready to manage, promote, and protect their health. Brochures and consent forms devoid of medical jargon, revamping hospital signs, and clinicians learning to become bilingual (speaking the language of the ordinary person) are some of the strategies that hospitals are implementing to aid patient communication and care (Huff, 2011).
Resource for Evaluating Online Health Information
Hospitals need to create intimate connections with patients and treat them as consumers (The Harvard School of Public Health, 2010). This is a trend accompanying the shift of focus toward consumer-oriented health care services. An exceptional resource for evaluating online health content is a guide named “The Health Literacy Environment Activity Packet: First Impressions & Walking interview” by Rima E. Rudd (Ibid).
The resource is useful because it discusses health information obtainable through various health care settings. Parts of the information found on these locations are relevant and up-to-date, but some are not. In relation to the guide concerning websites, read information on the “about us” page and find out who owns the site. For instance, is it a business, hospital, health organization, university, or government? Focus on quality and check if the site has editorial team. Does the website post information after a review? Patients should be skeptical because information should be current and unbiased.
Strategies for Patient Online Health Information
The basic principle in designing user-centered web content is to understand the intended users so as to create information based on the basic needs and wants of the users (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2012). Health literacy aims to develop online content in basic language and organize information. There are many strategies for making patients better access information online. First, use actionable content. This means that the organization of information ensures quick access and easy understanding. Second, display health information clearly on the web page.
This means that information uses ordinary language that looks easy to read due to quality use of space, color, and layout of the web page. The third strategy is content organization and navigation. Use clear labeling of sections and basic, consistent elements of navigation (menus, tabs, headings, maps, etc). The fifth strategy is the use of interactive content such as allowing users to customize web content as they choose and provide feedback. Lastly, evaluate and revise web content, navigation, and organization.
References
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (2012).Health literacy online.Retrieved June 19, 2012, from http://www.health.gov/healthliteracyonline/
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