pmartin@umich.edu

Patricia W. Martin University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Michigan Health Literacy

Awareness Training Program

This project has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, under Contract No. N01-LM-6-3503

The Project…

• Raise awareness of low literacy and provide resources to address issue

• Project Partners: Washtenaw Literacy and the Health Sciences Libraries (HSL)

• HSL received health disparities subcontract from NN/LM GMR (National Network of Library of Medicine (NN/LM) Greater Midwest Region)

pmartin@umich.edu

pmartin@umich.edu

Our Goals

1. Develop a health literacy awareness-resources training workshop

2. Provide health literacy awareness-resources training to health providers in underserved areas

3. Develop Michigan Health Literacy Awareness Training Program website to disseminate the toolkit, information about future health literacy projects

4. Provide a community forum for further discussion about health literacy issues and sharing of resources

pmartin@umich.edu

1. Develop a health literacy awareness / resources training workshop

• Cross-training session• Six staff from Washtenaw Literacy provided

sensitivity training– 2 hour session– 18 HSL staff members

• The WL staff were introduced to MedlinePlus by one of the HSL librarians

– 2 hour session

pmartin@umich.edu

2. Provide health literacy awareness / resources training to health providers

• 3 clinic sessions in pediatrics and family practice• Staff and physicians• Content: Sensitivity training and MedlinePlus• Our lesson : the value of clinic time

• 1 session in a pharmacy class• Faculty invitation• 12 students, 2 hours• Sensitivity training and MedlinePlus

• 3 open workshops• Representation from several UMHS departments

– Medical school, Hospital pharmacist, Attending physician, Clinical instructor– Operations manager of branch health care center

• What do you hope to get out of the class?

Class Syllabus:

• Low Literacy : its effect on patient health and what YOU can do about it

• Basic literacy facts– NAAL– Health Implications

• Evaluation of literacy levels– Patients– Office Materials

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Syllabus, continued

• Manageable Remedies– Plain Language and Ask-Me-Three– Teach-back technique– Translation Services for ESL patients– Online Resources, just a sample

• Medlineplus.gov• Healthy Roads Media• Podcasts for Consumer Health • Learning About Diabetes, colorful handouts to

print in English and Spanish.• Health Information Translations from The Ohio

State University Medical Center, Mount Carmel Health System  and OhioHealth

pmartin@umich.edu

www.guides.lib.umich.edu/healthliteracy

pmartin@umich.edu

3. Develop MI Health Literacy Awareness Training Program Website

4. Provide a community forum

Purpose: – to provide practical training in improving

communication with patients

Audience: – Local health providers

pmartin@umich.edu