Transcript Health Literacy: Communicating Effectively with Health
Communicating Effectively with Health Care Providers
Just What Did the Doctor Order?
“ Try both aleve 2pills bid with flexeril at hs, if not better see me next week.” 2
What is Your Experience?
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Communication Breakdown
House episode clip… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjkCl3-PId8 4
Why are We at Risk?
• Reliance on the written word for patient instruction • Increasingly complex healthcare system More medications More tests and procedures Growing self-care requirements Esoteric language 5
12% Proficient Health Literacy: A Universal Problem
Only
12%
of adults are proficient in understanding health information Source: National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL), U.S. Department of Education, 2003 6
What Can You Do?
#1:
Ask Questions
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Questions Are the Answer
http://www.ahrq.gov/questionsaretheanswer/media/QATA_restaurant30sec.wmv
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Questions Are the Answer
http://www.ahrq.gov/questionsaretheanswer/media/QATA_phone30sec.wmv
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Questions Are the Answer
Have you asked your doctor a question and not understood the answer?
Have you stopped yourself from asking a question because you were embarrassed or scared?
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Questions Are the Answer
• Asking questions helps put
you
your health care in charge of 11
Did You Get a Prescription?
Ask…
• What is the name of the medicine?
• How do you spell the name?
• • Can I take a generic version?
What is the medicine for?
• • How am I supposed to take it?
When should I take it?
• • How long do I need to take it?
Can I stop taking it if I feel better?
• What are the side effects?
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Did Your Doctor Suggest Surgery?
Ask…
• Why do I need the surgery?
• What kind of surgery do I need?
• What will you be doing?
• What are the benefits and risks?
• Have you done this surgery before?
• How successful is this surgery?
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What Can You Do?
#2:
Be Prepared
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Create a Visit Plan
• • • • • Medicines Symptoms Lifestyle Changes / Life Events Concerns Questions 15
Make a List of All Your Medicines
Prescription medicine Over-the-counter medicine Vitamins Herbal supplements
Include…
• What you take • How much • How often • • What it is for Medication allergies and any bad side effects you have had 16
Make a List of All Your Symptoms
Physical Thoughts & Feelings
Include…
• What the symptom is • When it started • When it happens • How long it lasts • How often if happens • If anything helps or makes it worse 17
Don’t Forget Lifestyle and Life Events
List any assistive devices Things that help you see, hear, stand, balance, and get around Lifestyle changes Changes in activities, ability to function or do things Life events Retirement, death of a loved one, moving, financial change Lifestyle Tobacco use, alcohol consumption, social activities, physical activity 18
Write Down Concerns & Questions
Remember to bring along your question list Rank your list of concerns & questions
Talk about the most important ones first
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What Can You Do?
#3:
Be Open and Honest
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Be Open and Honest
Do not just say what you think the doctor wants to hear The doctor cannot help you if you do not talk about what is going on 21
Alcohol Use Grief and Depression Falling or Fear of Falling Sensitive Topics Driving Incontinence Sexuality Family Problems Memory Problems
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What Can You Do?
#4:
Make Sure You Understand
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Practice in Front of Your Doctor
“What I hear, I forget; what I see, I remember; but what I do I understand.” ~ Confucius in 451 B.C.
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Make Sure You Understand
• Always ask about anything that is unclear • Repeat what your doctor says in your own words • Take notes • Bring a friend • If you still don’t understand,
ask again!
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What Can You Do?
#5:
Know the Answer to Three Questions
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Know the Answer to 3 Questions What Is My Main Problem?
What Do I Need to Do?
Why is it Important for Me to Do This?
Diagnosis Treatment Context
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Ask Me 3 Example
The Doctor Says…. “Your LDL is elevated and your HDL is lower than we would like. You need to cut back on saturated fatty acids and trans fats and begin an exercise regimen.” 28
Do You Know the Answer to…
What is my main problem?
Answer: High Cholesterol
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Do You Know the Answer to…
What do I need to do?
Answer: Watch what I eat, stay away from fatty foods and be more active
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Do You Know the Answer to…
Why is it important for me to do this?
Answer: Having high cholesterol can lead to problems with my heart
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What Are the 3 Questions?
What Is My Main Problem?
What Do I Need to Do?
Why is it Important for Me to Do This?
Diagnosis Treatment Context
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After Your Visit
• Review what you need to do • Tell a friend or family member what the doctor told you • Follow through with any instructions you received • Know where to go if you have questions or want more information 33
For More Information
• Additional information about talking with your health care providers can be found at: – NIH Senior Health: Talking with Your Doctor • http://nihseniorhealth.gov/talkingwithyourdoctor/toc.html
– American Medical Association Guide to Talking to Your Doctor • Check it out at your local public library!
– AHRQ: Questions are The Answer • http://www.ahrq.gov/questionsaretheanswer – Ask Me 3 • http://www.npsf.org/askme3 34
Questions?
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“Understanding is a two-way street.”
Eleanor Roosevelt 36
Created By: Alisha Ellwood, MA, LMFT Chair, Minnesota Health Literacy Partnership Project Manager, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Additional health literacy resources are available from the Minnesota Health Literacy Partnership Website at: http://www.healthliteracymn.org
Last Updated: August 18, 2010 The Health Literacy Program for Minnesota Seniors (HeLP MN Seniors) is brought to you by the University of Minnesota Health Sciences Libraries and the Minnesota Health Literacy Partnership. Funding was provided through a subcontract from the National Library of Medicine National Network of Libraries of Medicine under contract number N01-LM-6-3503. This work is protected by an Attribution Share Alike (cc by-sa) license. Under this license, others are able to remix, tweak, and build upon the original work even for commercial reasons, as long the original source is cited and derivative works are licensed under identical terms. For more information, see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
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