health presentation -- karen hanna

Health information literacy : 

Health information literacy Karen Hanna Access to Information Fall 2009

What is it? : 

What is it? Tasks “evaluating information for credibility and quality analyzing relative risks and benefits calculating dosages interpreting tests results and locating health information” Skills visual literacy computer literacy information literacy interpersonal skills National Network of Libraries and Medicine

Defining the problem : 

Defining the problem 90 million Americans have poor health literacy 66 million multi-lingual patient-medical-worker interactions every year "Since many Americans read at 5th-grade level, the MLA is now rewriting the Medspeak brochures at a lower reading level so people can understand the information and benefit from it.” (Mary L. Ryan)

General literacy : 

General literacy 53 percent of adults’ health literacy rated an “intermediate” ranking. About one quarter – 22 percent – had “basic” literacy levels, and the grades for 14 percent fell “below basic” 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy

Adrift in the sea of information : 

Adrift in the sea of information Even pre-professional medical workers don’t get it Cyberchondria: The growing worry you too might be a hyperchodriac Negatives include: encountering inaccurate information loss of privacy

Health concerns related to poor health literacy : 

Health concerns related to poor health literacy Greater risk of hospitalization Greater risk of self-reporting poor health Decreased understanding of health conditions or appropriate treatment Health costs may be four times higher for those with very low health literacy as for those in the general population Strong correlation with poor health literacy and chronic physical and mental conditions Healthy People 2010

But … : 

But … New media can help Pew Research found people increasingly turning to Internet for answers to “life-questions” Healthy People 2010 Information Access Project cites several examples: “improved access to personalized health information access to health information, support, and services on demand enhanced ability to distribute materials widely and update content or functions rapidly just-in-time expert decision support more choices for consumers” greater consumer proactivity greater potential for outreach on public health campaigns

What’s good information? : 

What’s good information? Accurate Current Valid Appropriate Intelligible Free of bias U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

An Rx for health consumers : 

An Rx for health consumers Neuro-Patient Resource Centre Medspeak Memphis Public Library and Information Center Spanish Language Outreach Program Wellzones DeKalb County Public Library Fulton County Public Library Houston Public Library

Our charge : 

Our charge Who is responsible for improving health literacy? The primary responsibility for improving health literacy lies with public health professionals and the healthcare and public health systems. We must work together to ensure that health information and services can be understood and used by all Americans. We must engage in skill building with healthcare consumers and health professionals. Adult educators can be productive partners in reaching adults with limited literacy skills. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services