Ip, Melissa. “Keys to Clear Communication: How to Improve Comprehension Among Patients with Limited Health Literacy.” Today’s Dietician 12, no 5 (May 2010). http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/050310p26.shtml (accessed March 21, 2011).
In this article from Today's Dietician, Melissa Ip describes techniques dieticians and other health professionals can use when communicating concepts to patients. Ip cites an Institute of Medicine Report that found that most consumers of health information don't understand what has been written for them. She also states that nearly 40% of Americans have basic or below basic literacy levels. Minority populations, older adults, and people with a limited income are most at risk of low literacy.
Ip outlines ways to assess a patient's health literacy level, including using the REALM-R (a literacy assessment tool for adults who speak English). She also notes that health literacy is affected by a variety of other factors, including visual literacy, numeracy, computer skills, and visual, audittory, and cognitive factors. Some experts recommend taking a "universal precautions" approach, where the health professional assumes that all patients have trouble understanding health information.
Ip makes an inportant point when addressing health materials translated into a patient's native language. People from different cultures/ethnicities may have limited literacy in their native language. Also, direct translations from English may not be culturally relevant to the end user.
This article provides a laundry list of methods that health professionals can use to better ccommunicate with their patients. It does cover the use of visuals, stating that using pictures in health education materials can increase comprehension and recall. While probably most useful for a health writer or health professional, this article cites many statistics about health literacy, and provides practical methods for creating effective health materials for patients.
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