Health Literacy Interest Group Academic Value of Health Literacy April 6, 2009 Health Literacy Symposium Leadership Dinner

Health Literacy Interest Group Key National Reports Institute of Medicine (2004) Healthy People 2010 (2000) Health Literacy of America’s Adults: Results from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy The Joint Commission (2007) American Medical Association (2007) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2004) $58 billion to $73 billion per year

Health Literacy Interest Group Health Literacy in the US 77 million adults have basic or below health literacy skills Basic 13% 12% 53% 22% Below Basic Proficient Intermediate Results from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy

Health Literacy Interest Group University of Utah Health Sciences Center Mission Patient Care Education Research

Health Literacy Interest Group Mission – Patient Care Research has shown that improved health literacy results in: –Decreased medication adverse effects –Improved health outcomes –Better patient treatment compliance –Appropriate use of medical services less reliance on emergency services, lower hospital admissions; better prevention –Increased patient satisfaction and safety

Health Literacy Interest Group Patient Care Key Studies – Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Number 87: Literacy and Health Outcomes, January 2004 Keller DL, Wright J, Pace HA. Impact of health literacy on health outcomes in ambulatory care patients: a systematic review. Ann Pharmacother Sep;42(9): Epub 2008 Jul 22. Review. Baker DW, Gazmararian JA, Williams MV, et al. Functional health literacy and the risk of hospital admission among Medicare managed care enrollees. Am J Public Health. 2002;92: 1278–1283. Williams MV, Parker RM, Baker DW, Parikh NS, Pitkin K, Coates WC, Nurss JR. Inadequate functional health literacy among patients at two public hospitals. JAMA 1995 Dec 6; 274(21):

Health Literacy Interest Group Mission - Education Many universities already have courses on topic being offered: –Harvard –Johns Hopkins –Rutgers –Tufts –Oregon Health & Science University

Health Literacy Interest Group Education - Key topics –Definitions and implications –Review of different measurement tools –How to find relevant literature and critique it –Discuss need for collaborative work between disciplines especially adult educators –Assessment and development of written materials –Social marketing and media applications

Health Literacy Interest Group Education - Course Formats –Analysis of readings –Student leadership of discussions –Student presentations on topics –Structured exercises –Field observations at different facility types –Lectures

Health Literacy Interest Group Education One includes as part of cultural competency training – –University of Virginia Medical Center One offers a concentration or elective in health literacy – - Harvard’s School of Public Health (concentration) - Tufts (elective) One has a health literacy standardized patient program –Oregon Health & Science University

Health Literacy Interest Group Education Some have mandatory classes or are considering such – 1.Tufts – for MPH Health Communication students 2.Oregon Health & Science University

Health Literacy Interest Group Education And many have classes taught by their librarians: –University of South Alabama –University of Alabama –Creighton University –Washington University

Health Literacy Interest Group Mission - Research Lots of funding available from NIH, R01, R03, NLM, etc. Research helps to determine cost benefit and effectiveness of health literacy 2900% increase in number of published articles in PubMed in the last decade (n=3 vs. 90)

Health Literacy Interest Group Available Resources AMA – Health Literacy and patient safety: Help Patients Understand HRSA – Unified Health Communication 101: Addressing Health Literacy VCU – Virginia Adult Education Health Literacy Toolkit Medical Library Association –Mediated curriculum –Self-guided Web tutorial

Health Literacy Interest Group Panel Discussion Further elaborate on the value of health literacy and its importance to universities Dr. Barry Weiss – University of Arizona Faculty Dr. Joseph Hatch – School of Medicine Marty Malheiro – College of Pharmacy Dr. Jackie Smith – College of Nursing Jean Shipman – Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library/Medical Library Association