Growing Awareness of the Importance of Health Literacy in Individuals with COPD

Abstract

Good communication will impact clinical practice by assisting patients in understanding health information as well as medical recommendations. Health literacy is important for communication between healthcare professionals and patients with Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD). In this article we review the concepts, definitions and measurement tools used to evaluate health literacy and recommend ways in which this information may be integrated into clinical practice. Increased awareness of health literacy will assist clinicians to improve patients' knowledge of their disease and adherence to healthcare recommendations.

Evaluation of a Nurse-Led Educational Telephone Intervention to Support Self-Management of Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Randomized Feasibility Study

“…Yes somewhat/No it hasn't/It made things worse. 6 Mostly satisfi ed/A bit dissatisfi ed/Very dissatisfi ed vs. Very satisfi ed.…”

Can Patients With COPD Assimilate Disease-Specific Information During an Acute Exacerbation?

“…Alternatively, the modest improvements noted in some studies may be related to the patients' level of literacy. [21][22][23][24] Although our booklet used simple language, 53.3% of the patients in the intervention group had not completed high school and may have found the content difficult. Literacy carries a stigma and therefore patients may not have identified a lack of understanding of the material provided.…”

“…Literacy carries a stigma and therefore patients may not have identified a lack of understanding of the material provided. 22,23 Eighty-seven percent (n=13) of the patients reported that nothing was required to improve the program. Although the intervention group included a higher proportion of patients with a low level of education, the increase in BCKQ suggests that the intervention adequately targeted patients who may have had low health literacy.…”

Health Literacy of Students Who Applied to Medical and Nursing Faculty in Dokuz Eylul University

“…Hem ölçek ile SOY ölçümü, hem de kendi beyanı ile SOY düzeyini değerlendirme, bizim çalışmamızı karşılaştırma yapabilmesi nedeniyle önemli kılmaktadır. Buna göre, hem REALM, hem NVS'ye göre bireylerin %50'sinden fazlasının SOY düzeyi yeterli düzeyde bulunmasına rağmen, sağlık kuruluşlarında kendilerine verilen kağıtları %6, 6 …”