October is Health Literacy Month
Health Plan of San Joaquin (HPSJ) celebrates Health Literacy Month in October! Health literacy is being able to read and grasp information in order to get the health services you need. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, “Nine out of 10 adults struggle to understand and use health information when it is unfamiliar, complex or jargon-filled.”
The struggle to read starts in grade school. Studies show that once a child has fallen behind, many never catch up. Research shows that the ability to read proficiently by the end of third grade is a powerful indicator of future academic success. In both San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, we know that the rate of children who can read by third grade is low.
The lack of health literacy influences filling out forms, getting proper self-care, locating services and sharing personal health info with providers.
Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.
We know that it will affect people’s ability to:
- Navigate the health care system, including filling out complex forms and locating providers and services
- Share personal information with providers, such as health history
- Engage in self-care and chronic disease management
- Understand mathematical concepts such as probability and risk
Because low literacy impacts health literacy, those who offer health information or services to others need to exercise health literacy skills, too. Health literacy is vital for health experts because it means working hard to find the right words to help the public make better choices and take the right action when it comes to their own health.
Here are five great tips on how to make information clear and easy to read:
- Find a way to reword not repeat info
- Give people the info they need in the moment because too much info at one time becomes unclear. Tell people where they can get more info later
- If you can’t get your point across by speaking, try using metaphors, role playing, sharing a story, using pictures or videos, drawing, writing down steps, defining terms or have someone else give the info
- Make sure people know that it is okay to ask questions, disagree or have you to reword the info
- Be sensitive and consider how the culture, racial or ethnic group receives info
Testing information with the public before releasing it and asking for feedback is the best way to know if it makes sense and is clear.
HPSJ Health Promotion and Cultural &Linguistics Manager Jenny Dominguez says: “Health literacy and understanding its importance is such a vital concept for us all, whether working with a patient, a Health Plan of San Joaquin member or community residents – anyone for that matter.”
She added: “There is a lot of work being done to increase the rates and as a health plan we support many literacy efforts because we understand the impact it plays on being health literate. Among those efforts where HPSJ is a health literacy partner are Rotary Read-In, Little Free Libraries, Books on Buses, Reach Out and Read San Joaquin, as well as at community events in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties.”
Plain Language – Powerful Literacy Tool for All Ages
HPSJ’s Dominguez says, “This is why we use the practice of plain language as one of our strategies for making written and oral information easier for all ages to understand. According to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, only 12 percent of adults have proficient health literacy.
Just by looking at someone you may not know if they have low literacy skills. Here are some red flags for low literacy;
- Frequently missed health-related appointments
- Incomplete registration forms
- Non-compliance with medication
- Unable to name medications, explain purpose or dosing
- Identifies pills by looking at them, not reading label
- Unable to give coherent, sequential history of health
- Asks fewer questions
- Lack of follow-through on tests or referrals
Let’s work together to continue raising awareness of health literacy and its importance as we together Celebrate Health.”