This brochure was created by the authors as an output for the study on health literacy. Disclaimer: Photographs, illustrations and other images are not owned by authors and are available in the world wide web. References are also provided regarding the written contents of this informational brochure.

1. FUSE SERVICE
LOW HEALTH LITERACY
CAN RESULT IN:
•medicationerrors;
•lowratesoftreatmentcompliance
duetopoorcommunicationbetween
providersandpatients;
•reduceduseofpreventiveservices
andunnecessaryemergencyroom
visits;
•ineffectivemanagementofchronic
conditions,duetoinadequateself-
careskills;
•longerhospitalstaysandincrease
hospitalreadmissions;
•poorresponsivenesstopublic
healthemergencies;and
•highermortality
is the degree to which
individuals have the capacity to
obtain, process and
understand basic health
information and services
needed to make appropriate
health decisions.
Low Health Literacy is common
amonG:
776
MILLION
16% OF WORLD’S
ADULT POPULATION
LACK BASIC LITERACY
SKILLS
A C C O R D I N G T O U N E S C O
I N S T I T U T E O F S T A T I S T I C S
HEALTH LITERACY
low socioeconomic
status or education
the elderly
(65 years old and up)
low English proficiency
or non-native speakers
of English
receiving publicly finance
health coverage or other
socioeconomic assistance
all ethnic groups
HOW TO EVALUATE THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF
HEALTHCARE INFORMATION?
Using teach back method
Direct observation of behaviour
Written measure such as tests
Oral questioning
Self-report and Self-monitoring
What are the
Consequences Associated
with Low Health Literacy?
Individuals, families, and
communities struggling to
access quality healthcare or
maintain health behaviors
health care delivery systems
unable to provide safe and
effective services and;
government, employers,
insurers, and patients facing
higher costs

2. HEALTH
LITERACY?
WHAT IS
REFERENCES
Berman,A.,S.,Kozier,B.,Erb,G.,Levett-Jones,T.,Dwyer,T.Hales,M.,
Moxham,L.Park,T.,Parker,B.,Reid-Searl,K.,Stanley,D.(2015).
KozierandErb'sfundamentalsofnursing(3rded.).Pearson
AustraliaGroupPtyLtd.
• REALM/D (Rapid Assessment of
Adult Literacy Medicine/Dentistry)
- Measures ability to read common
medical words
• SAHLSA (Short Assessment of
Health Literacy for Spanish-speaking
Adults)
- Form of the REALM for adults who
speak Spanish as a primary language
• TOFHLA (Test of Functional Health
Literacy in Adults) – measures reading
and numeracy using common medical
scenarios and materials
FORMALPATIENTASSESSMENT
Cormier,C.(2006).HealthLiteracy:Theknowledgeandexperiences
ofseniorlevelbaccalaureatenursingstudents.LSUDoctoral
Dissertations,40(27),1-138.
Mahadevan,R.(2013).Healthliteracyfactsheet.Centerforhealth
strategies,1-12.
• Frequently miss appointments;
• Fail to complete registration forms;
• Be unable to name medications or
explain their purpose or dosing;
• Identify pills by looking at them, not
reading label;
• Be unable to give coherent sequential
medical history;
• Show lack of follow-through on tests or
referrals; and
• Give out excuses when asked to read
written material.
Patients usually may:
INFORMAL PATIENT ASSESSMENT
RyanMichaelF.Oducado,MAN,RN
Ms.JudelleA.Saculo
Ms.AngelaLouiseA.Trinidad
Ms.TrixiaS.Maduramente
Mr.JericO.Orendez