Health Literacy Outreach in a Hospital Library:

Practice and Promotion

UCLA Info Studies 448 Course: Information Literacy Instruction: Theory & PracticeApril 2009, Second Life

Elisabeth Jacobsen Marrapodi,Library Services DirectorTrinitas Regional Medical CenterElizabeth, New Jersey http://www.trinitas.org

The Definition of Health Literacy

What it is:

Health literacy is defined in Health People 2010 as: "The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain,

process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions".

http://www.healthypeople.gov/Document/pdf/uih/2010uih.pdf

Why Health Literacy is Important?

It affects people’s ability to effectively manage their health care on many levels.

Examples: Difficulties in finding health care providers and services Filling out forms Communicating personal and health information with providers Managing chronic disease management Understanding the relationship between lifestyle choices and health

outcomes Not knowing or recognizing signs when to seek medical care Not understanding or misunderstanding medical terminology

Note: even those with advanced literacy skills can feel overwhelmed by health care information.

Health Literacy also includes being able to understand…

instructions on prescription drug bottles

medical education brochures doctor's directions and consent

forms Low health literacy affects the

patient’s ability to make informed health care decisions

The numbers

Only 12% of adults have Proficient health literacy:9 out of 10 adults may lack health literacy skills needed to manage their health care!

14% of adults have Below Basic health literacy:

30 million people!

Source: http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/default.htm

Economic Impact

The estimated additional health care expenditures due to low health literacy skills are about $73 billion**

Source: Health Literacy Fact Sheet, http://www.agingsociety.org/agingsociety/publications/fact/fact_low.html

** 1998 health care dollars

Skills needed for Health LiteracyPatients and family often need to process complex information.

In order to accomplish Health Literacy, individuals may need to be:

Visually literate: able to understand graphs or other visual information

Computer literate: able to operate a computer

Information literate: able to obtain and apply relevant information

Numerically or computationally literate: able to calculate or reason numerically

** Language literate• Able to understand medical terminology

It’s more than reading or “plain language”!

Health literacy is not simply about the ability to understand the written word

HL requires a complex group of reading, listening, analytical, and decision-making skills

plus the ability to apply these skills to health situations

Starting Points: Your Community & Customer Base

Our Consumer Health Outreach Program What it offers:

Consumer – Librarian information partnership

Confidentiality

Professionally prepared

Quality information

No charge for services

Reduces stress

Choice of convenient delivery options

Customers are advised to discuss information with their health care providers

NOTE: Librarian does not diagnose, interpret the literature or engage in personal discussion about search topic with customer

Library Website & Customer Service

Think like a consumer!

Location, location, location

Don’t get buried in text

Easy to navigate

Consider needs of all your customers

Get feedback!

Offer Customers Multiple Gateways

Website design: Mix it up

Tips:Your Library’s Website: One Stop Shopping

• Offer links from library’s website, such as MedlinePlus, WebMD, Pubmed, health care organizations, government sites, medical dictionary, etc

• Link out to & be linked with internal departments for customer convenience, such as Cancer Center, Women’s Health, Pediatrics, Family Practice, CME etc

• Offer information & resources in other languages

Promote Your Health Literacy Outreach Programs The PR dept is your best friend Promote your library’s programs & outreach

In house newsletters & local newspapers Reach out to schools, organizations, groups Library’s website

Leave the Ivory Tower! Community Health Fairs Teach Hands-on Workshops

Professional staff: clinical & administrative Community

Speakers Bureau: present to community organizations & groups

Examples:

“Complimentary & Alternative Medicine: Facts & Fiction”

“Tips & Tools for Finding Quality Online Medical Information”

Desired Outcomes Consumer & Clinical education & awareness Community will seek out your library first as a trusted resource for

their healthcare information Brand awareness for your library & institution

Measurement tools:

* Online surveys

* Feedback form attachments

The Global Village: Reach Out Beyond Your RL Library Walls: Health Literacy Programs & Projects for your institution, Health Info Island, etc

For more information:

Resources Health Literacy Improvement: http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/default.htm Medline Plus: Health Literacy:http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthliteracy.html AHRQ Report—Literacy and Health Outcomes (2004): http://

www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epcsums/litsum.htm Healthy People 2010 (2000): http://www.healthypeople.gov Healthy People 2010 Health Literacy Action Plan—Communicating Health: Priorities and

Strategies for Progress (2003): http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/projects/healthcomm/objective2.htm

IOM Report—Health Literacy: A Prescription To End Confusion (2004): http://www.iom.edu/report.asp?id=19723

NIH Improving Health Literacy Web page: http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/ocpl/resources/improvinghealthliteracy.htm

NIH/AHRQ program announcements—Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-04-116.html; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-04-117.html

Prevention: A Blueprint for Action (2004): http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/blueprint/ NLM Bibliography—Understanding Health Literacy and Its Barriers (2004):

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/cbm/healthliteracybarriers.html CDC—Scientific and Technical Information: Simply Put:

http://www.cdc.gov/communication/resources/simpput.pdf

Thank you

Any questions?