What are some strategies you could employ to improve the health literacy of patients?

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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.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
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.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
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 from http://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.
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To prepare:
Think about the nurses role in improving the health literacy of patients.
Consider the many ways patients access health information including blogs social media patient portals websites etc.
Reflect on experiences you have had with patients who self-diagnose using online medical sources.
Using the Internet the Walden Library or other trustworthy sources identify a resource that you could introduce to patients to help them evaluate the credibility of health information found online.
What are some strategies you could employ to improve the health literacy of patients?
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Post your assessment of the nurses role in improving the health literacy of patients. Then identify the resource you would recommend to patients for evaluating online health information and why it would be beneficial. Describe additional strategies for assisting patients in becoming informed consumers of online health information.