Discussion post

 

What strategies could all of us adopt to minimize barriers and misunderstandings for low literacy patients?

 

 I agree with you that strategies such as the provision of information, effective communication, and structured education can minimize barriers for low literacy patients.  Carlisle et al. (2011) assert that poor health literacy prevents the patients from taking medications properly. However, health care providers and pharmacists need to make health-literacy friendly by communicating more effectively. Effective communication in this case means speaking slower, and avoid the use of medical jargon (Carlisle et al. 2011). In addition to effective communication, health care providers should provide the patients with structured education using tools such as pill cards, a telephone reminder system, and more.  Finally, health care providers should change how they provide information. For example, they should let the patients know about drug labels, use videos, brochures, and other ways of delivering clear information (Carlisle et al. 2011).  These strategies will allow the patients to manage their health and take the medications correctly.

 

How do language barriers stress health literacy?

 

 I agree with your idea that language barriers hinder effective health communication.    For example, culture affects health literacy in that patients have their values and beliefs which they use in making decisions (Singleton & Krause, 2009). Also, patients have their own body of words and they use the words to communicate. Patients use both culture and language to interpret healthcare messages and this indicates that if the healthcare provider does not understand the patient's language and culture, the patients will receive negative health outcomes.  In most cases, linguistic differences hinder effective healthcare since the patients and the clinicians do not understand each other (Singleton & Krause, 2009). Lack of proper communication is associated with negative consequences since the patients will not comply with treatment, and the clinicians will not be able to provide information related to risk and certainty.  Therefore, patients may be unable to acquire health literacy due to the failure to understand the language. The latter is contributed by cultural differences. However, the solution to this problem is that clinicians need linguistic and cultural skills for them to provide effective clinical care.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 

Carlisle, A., Jacobson, K. L., Di Francesco, L., & Parker, R. M. (2011). Practical strategies to

improve communication with patients. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 36(9), 576.

 

Singleton, K., & Krause, E. (2009). Understanding cultural and linguistic barriers to health

literacy. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 14(3), 4.