A lot of health information seems like a secret code only doctors understand. Wouldn't it be great if we could all comprehend what they were telling us?
To address the gap between what healthcare professionals know and what patients understand, the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy, which the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled in May, suggests you apply a "universal precautions" approach borrowed from the world of infectious disease prevention.
Because it's impossible to tell by looking who may be infected with HIV or a similar disease transmitted through blood or bodily fluids, doctors, dentists, and other healthcare workers use gloves and other barriers for every patient. Because it's impossible to tell by looking who is affected by limited health literacy--the ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions--HHS recommends you adopt a universal precautions approach to communication.
Assume that most patients will find it hard to understand health information. "When nine of 10 English-speaking adults have less than proficient health literacy skills, it is an issue that affects everyone," the report notes.
To adopt universal precautions, health professionals should use the clearest language possible with everyone, regardless of their perceived health literacy skills.
To learn more:
- read the HHS National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy
- read the WSJ blog
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