| Health care folks -- doctors, nurses, dietitians, | | | | Clear Health Communication says you should ask |
| pharmacists, physical therapists, health educators and | | | | three key questions: |
| writers -- use special words. You may know what | | | | 1. What is my main problem? |
| their words mean or you may not. Not knowing what | | | | 2. What do I need to do? |
| these words mean could be harmful to your health. | | | | 3 Why is important for me to do this? |
| This lack of understanding, or health literacy, is a big | | | | Do not be afraid to ask more questions if you do not |
| problem in the US, and the numbers are upsetting. | | | | understand your health problem or treatment plan. |
| A National Adult Literacy Survey found that 44 million | | | | You may also request a brochure, pamphlet, reminder |
| Americans are health illiterate -- they don't | | | | card, or diagram. Your medical center may have a |
| understand health words. According to the Center for | | | | medical library and you may find additional information |
| Health Care Strategies, 66% of Americans, 60 years | | | | there. Take advantage of the free courses offered |
| old and older, have poor health literacy skills. The | | | | by the center. |
| Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says | | | | Sign up for a course about fixing heart healthy meals, |
| emergency room patients who lack health literacy | | | | managing pain, using sports equipment safely, breast |
| skills are twice as likely to be hospitalized. | | | | self-examination, preparing for surgery, and life after |
| The American Medical Association (AMA) found that | | | | major surgery. Be cautious about health information |
| 90 million Americans do not understand what their | | | | posted on the Internet. You will find a wealth of |
| doctor tells them. Worse, 42 percent of Americans | | | | information there, but make sure the information is |
| do not understand the words on prescription | | | | reliable before you use it. Who is providing this |
| medicine bottles. So you can see why the AMA and | | | | information? What is their reputation? Can you find |
| the AMA Alliance are working together to improve | | | | reviews of the website? |
| health literacy. What is it? | | | | The AMA and AMA Alliance are training health |
| The AMA Council of Scientific Affairs defines health | | | | professionals and volunteers in health literacy. Your |
| literacy as "the ability to read and comprehend | | | | doctor may ask you to repeat directions, for |
| prescription bottles, appointment slips, and the other | | | | example. He or she is not doing this to make you |
| essential health-related materials required to | | | | feel bad, your doctor is doing this to make sure |
| successfully function as a patient." In other words, | | | | things were explained right. Your doctor may give |
| you can read, understand, and use health information. | | | | you a chart indicating when you should take your |
| Even if you know lots of health words there are | | | | medicine. |
| probably some you do not know, words that affect | | | | Being health literate will help you manage your health |
| your health. What can you do? The Partnership for | | | | and prolong your life. |