Nursing Perspectives in Health Literacy and Patient Communication - Research Paper Example

I have observed that the quality of information related to health that Americans get and their capacity to comprehend and utilize that information is the way to building a more healthy America. From my research, by closing the gap in health literacy which is an issue of ethics and equity is essential in reducing health disparities (Partnership for Clear Health Communication Steering Committee, 2003). The challenge that I came across in my research is to shape public health communication that is effective, culturally and linguistically appropriate, and in plain language (National Cancer Institute, 1995; Doak, Doak, Root, 1996). I believe that effective tools that make health information accessible and understandable will benefit not only those at higher risk for low health literacythe poor, older adults, recent immigrants, and ethnic minoritiesbut also will benefit everyone (Kerka 2002,: Davis, Bocchini, Fredrickson, 1996). From Parkers point of view, I have learned that the ability to access, understand, and use health-related information and services are critical to future public health successes in improving emergency. I am not surprised that the expectation that individuals should assume responsibility for their care in a complex healthcare system creates challenges in understanding health information. I furthered my research and found out that people with the greatest healthcare needs often cannot comprehend the information required to navigate successfully and function in the U.S. healthcare system (Parker, Ratzan, Lurie, 2003). I have discovered that that health literacy is the currency that an individual needs to access, understand, and act on health information. In other words, health literacy allows the person to navigate the complex healthcare system and realize the full benefits of the delivery systems. Despite the fact that many variables impact an individual's care, as health professionals, we need to ensure that we are clearly communicating health information to the public whether it is about self-care management or filling out insurance forms.

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Problem Statement

What is surprising is that nurses have a gap with health literacy in awareness, knowledge, and clinical recognition of low health literacy, skilled and practices to address low health literacy. Whats more is that nurses do not routinely use best practices for effective communication to health consumers with low health literacy. Since the little health studies have been done with or by nursing professionals, the profession has minimal knowledge about how it associates or impacts the study. Given the importance of health communication; patient-provider interaction assumes an essential part in care, especially among patients with low education (J. B. Dark colored, Stewart, and Ryan, 2003). Besides that, the provider knowledge in regards to the prevalence of patient qualities related with low health literacy may impact these associations. It has been noticed that the lack of understanding among providers on issues identified with health education can considerably modify understanding among patient-provider communication and obstruct benefits anticipated from medical care. The truth is that researchers recommend that discordance in the estimation of patient's literacy level might be an imperative well disparity of variations in human services (Kelly and Haidet, 2007).

Purpose Statement

The purpose of this qualitative study was to analyze and depict nursing perspectives in health literacy and patient communication, as they are key parts connected to better health results. The second design was to depict nursing professionals, perceptions and knowledge of the effect of lack of health literacy on individual patients, their practice, and the health framework. Also, to investigate nursing professionals view of the viability of, or boundaries to, implementation of health education programs for patients at their places of practice.

So far no studies have been led to evaluate the information of nursing professionals across nursing schools, practice, or role specialty, in regards to nursing learning of health education, its effect on patient results, or nursing utilization of resources of encouraging communication with people with low health literacy. In this case, nursing's perception of health literacy remain to a great extent unexplored, yet, health promotion operations and patient training have dependably been autonomous and inherent segments of nursing care (Mason, 2001).

Research Questions

I was able to get three qualitative questions from the issue explanation and reason for this review to portray nursing points of view on health literacy parts and patient communication. The principal inquire about the question was:

RQ1: What perceptions do nursing have on their roles in health literacy? The second research question was

RQ2: What effects does Health Literacy have on Nursing Assessment? And my third research question was

RQ3: What encounters do nursing have to identify whether the patient understands health information?

Social Change

I trust that today's researchers and healthcare providers can profit from the current studies on health literacy. Although many studies have been researched on the difficulties related to the different populations that are adapting to a vast number of medical problems, there are differences between the research findings and what the best practice on health organizations are. This implies organizations need to grasp a health literacy program, for example, the one supported by the Agency for Health Research and Quality (2004). Once these qualities and practices are organized, procedures and policies can be implemented. Another essential point is that clinicians are urged to create interdisciplinary groups that incorporate communication researchers, marketing professionals, architects, health information researchers, and administrators to convey oral, visual, print, and Internet-based information. It is observed that building up these materials will oblige groups to consider the particular needs of the population they serve. This practice will bring about custom fitted health information that will best serve every population. Drawing upon the underlying health literacy inquires about and including the group in projects and programs might be the best solution for achievement in enhancing health education. Perusing Kickbusch's writings, I discovered that he has recommended that by considering health education extensively (rather than separating sicknesses or particular health risks), and attempting to increase a population social capital, health care advocates can accomplish a more sustained and integrated program of health and social change. In other terms, increasing a populations health literacy over many health settings will bring about that population is engaged to take more control while tending to future health-related difficulties.

To sum up, I have learned from this research that an opportunity exists to bridge the gap between nursing knowledge of health literacy roles and patient communication. Therefore, positive social change implications for health services include promoting nursing strategies and health literacy positions that will lead to effective communication. As such, it will promote patient behavior changes for optimal wellness

References

Brown, J. B., Stewart, M., & Ryan, B. L. (2003). Outcomes of patient-provider interaction. In

T. L. Thompson, A. M. Dorsey, K. I. Miller, & R. Parrott (Eds.), Handbook of health

Communication (pp. 141162). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Davis, Bocchini, Fredrickson, et al. Parent comprehension in polio vaccine information

Pamphlets, Pediatrics, 97 (1996), pp. 804810

Kelly, P. A., & Haidet, P. (2007). Physician overestimation of patient literacy: A potential

Source of health care disparities. Patient Education and Counseling, 66(1), 119122.

Kerka, Health and literacy, Educational Resources Information Center, Washington DC (2002) (Practice Application brief 7, ERIC ED438450)

Kickbusch, I. S. (2001). Health literacy: Addressing the health and education divide. Health Promotion International, 16, 289-297.

Partnership for Clear Health Communication Steering Committee Eradicating low health literacy: the first Public health movement of the 21st century overview. New York NY: Pfizer Inc., March 2003. Available at: http://clearhealthcommunication.com/contact.html. Accessed July 15, 2004

R.M. Parker, S.C. Ratzan, N. Lurie, Health literacy: a policy challenge for advancing high-quality

Health care Health Aff, 22 (2003), pp. 147153

National Cancer Institute Clear and simple: developing effective print materials for low-literate

Readers, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington DC (1995) (publication NIH 95-3594)