The Nurse’s Role in Improving the health literacy of patients

Welcome to Week 11! This week we will be exploring the concept of health literacy (related to patients) and the nurse’s role in improving the health literacy of patients. In your discussion this week you will be discussing this nursing role and determining strategies designed to improve health literacy.
This week you will be completing your final assignment for this course. For this assignment you will be researching a healthcare-related topic that you would like to teach to patients. You will create a one page flyer based on your findings. You will also write an introduction which discusses the intended audience and the background for your proposed topic. You should have references from both the course readings and outside sources. This introduction should be no longer than 1-2 pages. Your paper will need an APA formatted cover page as well as a reference list. If you develop your flyer in Word it will be easy to include it in your paper. It can be incorporated in the paper or as an appendix after the paper. If you use a different software package you will have a hard time submitting your assignment. Be sure to read the Assignment 11 rubric (found in the Course Information link) carefully prior to starting the assignment. Try to fulfill all the requirements for an Excellent evaluation.Be careful that if you use direct quotes that you include quotation marks and a page number in the citation. If you do not do this, it is considered PLAGIARISM. Plagiarism will result in a significant reduction in grade and potentially a “0” grade. Develop your own flyer, don’t take elements from other flyers to develop your flyer.
Be sure to include four to five websites where the reader can get more information..

Application: Health Information Patient Handout:
One of the pivotal goals of consumer health literacy efforts is to design educational materials that attract as well as educate users. In this Assignment, you design a health information document on a topic that is of interest to you.
To prepare:
Select a health issue of interest to you.
Identify the audience or population that you seek to educate about this issue.
Search the Internet to find credible sites containing information about your selected topic.
Review the two health literacy websites listed in this week’s Learning Resources. Focus on strategies for presenting information.
To complete:
Design an educational handout on the health issue you selected.
Include a cover page.
Include an introduction that provides:
An explanation of your issue and why you selected it
A description of the audience you are addressing
In the handout itself:
Develop your handout in such a way that it attracts the attention of the intended audience.
Include a description of the health issue and additional content that will enhance your message (i.e., key terms and definitions, graphics, illustrations, etc.).
Recommend four or five sites that provide clear, valuable, and reliable information on the topic.
Note: Remember to keep the information in your health handout and its design at the appropriate level for the audience you are seeking to inform. Submit your Assignment as a Word document.
McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2012). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge(Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.
Chapter 20, “Supporting Consumer Information and Education Needs”

This chapter explores health literacy and e-health. The chapter examines a multitude of technology-based approaches to consumer health education.
Chapter 21, “Using Informatics to Promote Community/Population Health”

In this chapter, the authors supply an overview of community and population health informatics. The authors explore a variety of informatics tools used to promote community and population health.
Chapter 22, “Informatics Tools to Promote Patient Safety”

The authors of this chapter present strategies for developing a culture of safety using informatics tools. In addition, the chapter analyzes how human factors contribute to errors.
Health literacy: How do your patients rate? (2011). Urology Times, 39(9), 32.

The authors of this article define health literacy and emphasize its poor rates in the United States. Additionally, the authors recommend numerous websites that offer patient education materials.
Huff, C. (2011). Does your patient really understand? H&HN, 85(10), 34.

This article defines hospital literacy and highlights the barriers that prevent it from increasing. It also emphasizes the difficulties created by language and financial costs.
The Harvard School of Public Health. (2010). Health literacy studies. Retrieved fromhttp://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy

This website provides information and resources related to health literacy. The site details the field of health literacy and also includes research findings, policy reports and initiatives, and practice strategies and tools.
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (n.d.). Health literacy online. Retrieved June 19, 2012, from http://www.health.gov/healthliteracyonline/

This webpage supplies a guide to writing and designing health websites aimed at increasing health literacy. The guide presents six strategies that should be used when developing health websites.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.a). Quick guide to health literacy. Retrieved June 19, 2012, from http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/quickguide/Quickguide.pdf

This article contains an overview of key health literacy concepts and techniques for improving health literacy. The article also includes examples of health literacy best practices and suggestions for improving health literacy.
Media
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Executive Producer). (2012a). Interview with Rachelle Toman, M.D. Ph.D. Rockville, MD: Author. Retrieved fromhttp://www.ahrq.gov/legacy/questions/video/06clinician/

In this interview, Dr. Toman discusses the importance of asking patients questions to ensure they have been able to sufficiently communicate their concerns.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Executive Producer). (2012b). The waiting room video.Rockville, MD: Author. Retrieved from http://www.ahrq.gov/patients-consumers/patient-involvement/ask-your-doctor/videos/waitroom/index.html

This video addresses the importance of communication in the patient-health care professional relationship. It highlights the need to ask meaningful questions to the patient to fully understand issues and concerns.