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Literacy Needs in Health & Mental Health Care
At a minimum, patients must be able to:
Access information
Recognize cues to action
Access care
Navigate institutions
Complete forms
Provide consent
Communicate with professionals
Provide information for assessment, diagnosis, & treatment
Understand directions
Follow regimens
Advocate
Wendy Jones, 2005, National Center for Cultural Competence,
based on categories by Rima Rudd, 2002, National Center for Adult Learning and Literacy
Literacy Needs in Health & Mental Health Care
• Access information- possess the ability to read
comprehend and use resources to: 1) obtain health
information, 2) identify and contact healthcare
providers, programs and services 3) make decisions.
• Recognize cues to action- ability to:1) take information
from public service announcements and other health
promotion and intervention resources, 2) infer from
verbal and written comments and recommendations for
preventive, follow-up, diagnostic and specialty care.
Wendy Jones, 2005, National Center for Cultural Competence,
based on categories by Rima Rudd, 2002, National Center for Adult Learning and Literacy
Literacy Needs in Health & Mental Health Care
• Access care- within the physical environment, ability to
read signs or maps of a facility including finding the
location of a department or clinic; knowledge of
insurance coverage, communicating need for healthcare
• Navigate institutions- knowledge of: 1)
consumer/patient rights and responsibilities 2),
insurance plan benefits (covered and non-covered
services, co-pay or percentage of cost for services and
prescriptions), and 3) appeal process for denial of
services or supports. Ability to determine eligibility for
programs and services.
Wendy Jones, 2005, National Center for Cultural Competence,
based on categories by Rima Rudd, 2002, National Center for Adult Learning and Literacy
Literacy Needs in Health & Mental Health Care
• Complete forms- possess reading and written language
skills to read, comprehend and complete forms and
applications with required information.
• Provide consent- ability to calculate risks and benefits
of intervention or treatment regimens; understand what
providing consent to receive healthcare means.
• Communicate with professionals- skills to provide
and receive information, analyze and synthesize
information received, and ask questions based upon
information obtained.
Wendy Jones, 2005, National Center for Cultural Competence,
based on categories by Rima Rudd, 2002, National Center for Adult Learning and Literacy
Literacy Needs in Health & Mental Health Care
• Provide information for assessment, diagnosis, and
treatment- provide complete medical and family history in oral
or written format, including: 1) previous illnesses or surgeries, 2)
previous and current medications {dosage, length of time taking
medication, side effects, whether it’s working} 3) current
diagnoses and treatment, 4) signs and symptoms of illness, 5)
change in health status, and 6) health practices.
• Understand directions- ability to understand oral and/or written
information including: 1) referrals for healthcare services,
diagnostic testing, therapy or other healthcare services, and 2)
instructions for taking medications or following treatment
regimens.
Wendy Jones, 2005, National Center for Cultural Competence,
based on categories by Rima Rudd, 2002, National Center for Adult Learning and Literacy
Literacy Needs in Health & Mental Health Care
• Follow regimens- ability to understand, remember and carry out
written or oral treatment processes including: 1) how to
take/administer medications, 2) when to take medication, 3) use
of measuring tools, 4) measuring medicines, 5) identifying
changes in health status (signs, symptoms, feelings of
fatigue/tiredness, shortness of breath, etc.), and 6) maintaining a
record of health through charts and/or keeping a journal.
• Advocate- ability to apply knowledge of systems processes,
consumer/patient rights and responsibilities to promote: 1) most
appropriate health care services and related health insurance
coverage, and 2) provision of information in understandable
formats.
Wendy Jones, 2005, National Center for Cultural Competence,
based on categories by Rima Rudd, 2002, National Center for Adult Learning and Literacy