Imagine stepping onto a court or field to play a sport you’ve never tried. How would you feel, and what questions would come to mind? Showing up to play without a basic understanding makes it ten times harder to participate, let alone have a good time. The same idea is true when it comes to understanding and navigating your health, also known as health literacy.
According to the National Library of Medicine, nearly 9 in 10 adults struggle with health literacy, meaning it’s difficult to understand health information and navigate the health care system. Keep reading to learn the basics of health literacy and five ways you can improve it.
What Is Health Literacy and Why Is It Important?
The National Institutes of Health defines health literacy as the degree to which individuals can find, understand and use health information and services to make informed decisions for themselves and others. Examples of health literacy include understanding prescription drug instructions, a doctor’s directions, consent forms and the ability to navigate the health care system.
Health literacy is a vital skill everyone should have because it helps you:
- Effectively communicate with your doctors
- Find needed health information and services
- Follow your treatment plans
- Take prescription drugs correctly
- Understand and decide what doctors, services and treatments are right for your needs
Now that you understand its importance, let’s look at how to improve your health literacy.
How to Improve Your Health Literacy
We know navigating your health can feel overwhelming, but you aren’t alone. We’re here with five expert tips to help you grow in confidence.
Plan Your Visits
Consider planning what you want to talk through to make the most of your time. You could even write down a list of priorities you want to discuss, with the most important at the top. Be sure to take notes for reference and any follow-up appointments. Planning your visit helps you think critically about your health needs while increasing health literacy.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
If your provider is explaining a diagnosis, a treatment plan or anything else related to your health needs, be sure to ask questions if you’re confused. There’s nothing to feel embarrassed about if you ask for clarification or further explanation — that’s how we learn. At AdventHealth, it’s our goal to help you feel confident in your care, and our care team is here to help.
Research Online
With today’s technology, we have the entire internet at our fingertips. We encourage you to use that to your advantage when researching health-related content. Maybe you were just diagnosed with a sinus infection and want to know more about your treatment options. Or maybe your provider told you about a new medication that’s available and you want to learn more. Researching online is a great way to improve your health literacy. Choose reputable sources, like health systems and medical journals (or ask your provider for advice) since there is plenty of misinformation online.
Ask Your Doctor for Visual Aids
Our doctors can provide different visual aids to help you understand your care. This could be in the form of videos, diagrams or charts. Sometimes, we learn better by visually digesting the information rather than just hearing it. Visual aids are also helpful by serving as a quick reference. It can be easy to forget things you hear, but being able to go back and review the information is not only convenient but a great way to reinforce what you’re learning.
Apply the “Teach-Back” Method
Consider asking your provider to use the teach-back method. This simple, yet powerful tool is a great way to enhance comprehension. It works when your doctor explains health information and then asks you to repeat it to them in your own words. Doing this helps you to understand your care better and allows your doctor to correct any misconceptions or provide clearer explanations.
