This document discusses designing a health information handout for patients. It instructs selecting a health topic, intended audience, and credible sources of information about the topic. It provides guidelines for the handout's content, design, and formatting to make it accessible and useful for the target audience. The handout should attract readers, clearly explain the health issue, include relevant terms and graphics, and recommend additional reliable sources for readers to learn more. The goal is to create an educational resource to improve patients' health literacy.

1. Discussion: Health Information Patient Handout
Discussion: Health Information Patient HandoutORDER HERE FOR ORIGINAL, PLAGIARISM-
FREE PAPERS ON Discussion: Health Information Patient HandoutOne of the pivotal goals of
consumer health literacy efforts is to design educational materials that attract as well
as educate users. In this Assignment, you design a health information document on a topic
that is of interest to you.To prepare:Select a health issue of interest to you.Identify the
audience or population that you seek to educate about this issue.Search the Internet to find
credible sites containing information about your selected topic.Review the two health
literacy websites listed in this week’s Learning Resources. Focus on strategies for
presenting information.To complete:Design an educational handout on the health issue you
selected.Include a cover page.Include an introduction that provides:An explanation of your
issue and why you selected itA description of the audience you are addressingIn the
handout itself:Develop your handout in such a way that it attracts the attention of the
intended audience.Include a description of the health issue and additional content that will
enhance your message (i.e., key terms and definitions, graphics, illustrations,
etc.).Recommend four or five sites that provide clear, valuable, and reliable information on
the topic.Note: Remember to keep the information in your health handout and its design at
the appropriate level for the audience you are seeking to inform. Submit your Assignment
as a Word document.Week 11: Consumer Health Literacy“My mother-in-law was diagnosed
with stage-four pancreatic cancer. What does that mean?”“I’ve had a cough for 4 weeks.
Should I be concerned?”“I‘m thirsty all the time. Could this mean I have diabetes?”The
Internet has empowered consumers to retrieve instantaneous information about almost
any health issue that arises. For example, a Google search for “measles” identified 12.1
million different links in a mere 0.11 seconds. However, today the problem lies not with
finding information but with recognizing which information is up-to-date, credible, and
valuable. Unfortunately, many health consumers do not have the literacy skills to sift
through available information and identify that which is relevant. Nurses can play a
valuable role in helping to improve consumer health literacy. In this final week, you explore
how nurses can be involved in increasing the health literacy of patients. Discussion: Health
Information Patient HandoutLearning ObjectivesStudents will:Assess the nurse’s role in
improving the health literacy of patientsFormulate strategies for improving the health
literacy of patientsApply strategies for improving a targeted audience’s health literacyPhoto
Credit: [Wavebreakmedia Ltd]/[Wavebreak Media / 360]/Getty ImagesLearning
ResourcesNote: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to

2. the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.REQUIRED
READINGSMcGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2018). Nursing informatics and the foundation
of knowledge (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.Chapter 16, “Patient
Engagement and Connected Health”This chapter explores health literacy and e-health. The
chapter examines a multitude of technology-based approaches to consumer health
education.Chapter 17, “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 15, “Informatics Tools to Promote Patient Safety and Clinical
Outcomes”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/healthliteracyThis 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.pdfThis 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.REQUIRED MEDIAAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality
(Executive Producer). (2012a). Interview with Rachelle Toman, M.D. Ph.D. Rockville, MD:
Author. Retrieved from http://www.ahrq.gov/patients-consumers/patient-
involvement/ask-your-doctor/videos/clinician06/index.htmlIn this interview, Dr. Toman
discusses the importance of asking patients questions to ensure they have been able to
sufficiently communicate their concerns.Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
(Executive Producer). (2012b). The waiting room video. Rockville, MD: Author. Retrieved
from http://www.ahrq.gov/patients-consumers/patient-involvement/ask-your-
doctor/videos/waitroom/index.htmlThis video addresses the importance of
communication in the patient-health care professional relationship. It highlights the need to
ask meaningful questions to the patient to fully understand issues and concerns.Discussion:
Health LiteracyIn order to effectively manage their own health, individuals need to have

3. competencies in two areas—basic literacy and basic health literacy. What is the difference?
Basic literacy refers to the ability to read, even simple language. Health literacy is defined
as, “the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand
basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions”
(National Coalition for Literacy, 2009). Unfortunately, according to a Department of
Education report on health literacy, only 12% of adults aged 16 and older are considered to
have a proficient level of health literacy (U.S. Department of Education, 2006). Acquiring
health literacy skills has become more complicated with the explosion of online health
information, some credible and some misleading.In this Discussion, you focus on how to
help individuals find credible information on the Internet and develop strategies nurses can
use to increase the health literacy of their patients.To prepare:Think about the nurse’s 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?