Part 1 'the basics' - World Health Communication Associates

The WHO and several international health professional associations have called
for major changes in health workforce training to develop the provider skills required
to meet the health literacy and other needs created by the prevalence of chronic
illness. Skills called for include the ability of providers to support self-managed care,
build more partnership-based provider–patient relationships, and communicate
more effectively (Pruitt and Epping-Jordan 2005).
self management
In the past, patient health management was primarily the responsibility of the
physician. However, in many health systems people are increasingly encouraged to
take more responsibility for their own health. To make appropriate self-management
decisions, people must locate health information, evaluate the information for
credibility and quality, and analyse risks and benefits. Furthermore, people must
be able to ask pertinent questions and express health concerns clearly by describing
symptoms in ways the providers can understand (IOM 2004, p168).
Health care providers need to take ‘universal precautions’ in relation to health literacy and
assume that everyone may have trouble understanding health information. They should take
steps to strengthen their own and their institutions’ communications.
Section 4: wHat can we do to StrenGtHen HealtH literacy? 27
© Photo by Kara Jacobson