Health literacy

Health literacy

Health is the ability of a biological system to convert utilize and allocate energy to sustain a

living organism. Health care is the improvement of health or maintenance of health through

disease prevention, treatment, vaccination among other medical actions. Health literacy, on the

other hand, is the ability to read, understand, and use healthcare information in making decisions

concerning health and also to follow any instructions involved in a treatment.

Patients have been increasingly expected to take charge of their health and be involved in

decisions concerning their health. This is because of the growing evidence that patient

participation has benefits as well. Such benefits include the patient’s knowledge is increased in

the process, the patient’s satisfaction is increased in terms of the treatment they receive from

hospitals reduced patient’s uneasiness and apprehension.

The scope of the consultation was set by hosting consultation workshops that targeted

the middle-aged in the society aged between late 20’s to early 40’s. In the workshops, health

literacy was seen as “meaningless”. The research also examined the relevance of health literacy,

areas of improvement and ways of promoting it. Cynthia (2017).

Many members of the community especially those of the studied age bracket have been

working in partnership with health services, health organization bodies, among each other with

their physician to achieve a better health system. This concept illustrates how needy they are in

health literacy intervention. In addition, many community members attended meetings on health

education organized by self-help groups and other health foundation organizations.

In response to the need for health literacy, an intervention was carried out and some of its

millennium goals were such as fostering networks between community members that ensured

exploration of different mechanisms for purposes of increasing connectedness of community

network chain. This was to enhance the better channel website for its authoritativeness and pro-

active source of health information.

According to Sophie Hill (2014), Education and training for the public through

community-based training initiatives focused more on providing its members with techniques to

improve their health literacy. Similarly, cultural responsiveness act as a barrier or a disadvantage

in promoting health literacy. The cultural beliefs and practices of the members of the community

proved challenging in the promotion of health literacy which had to be overcome.

State-wide training for community members on health literacy proved effective. The

training was available and tailored to people participating in health service through mediums

such as television broadcasted channels, radio channels, as well as the internet according to the

accessibility of the people. This was solely for purposes of mass education. With respect to the

goals set, several advantages were achieved by the study i.e. the study

promote d changes in the health system through the improvement of health information

communication, informed decision making as well as ease in the access to vital health services

and information. Similarly, the study led to increased research and developments in health

literacy and health sector in general. Cynthia, (2017)

However, some of the disadvantages that resulted from the study are such as the quality of information provided to the public. The information provided is prone to editing and therefore

the final information fed to the public is a “sugar coat” of the original information. The data of

this research could similarly be used for the study of the aged in the society in the determination

of their state of neediness of the health literacy. This is possible as each can be consulted of their

view on the different topics as well as their decisions. Sophie Hill (2014).

The limitations of the study included the age bracket in which the study could not be used

with a younger audience i.e. children. A different study has to be conducted for their case in

order to come up with conclusive results. Otherwise so many assumptions will be taken into

consideration hence rendering the study as ineffective.

References

• Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2017. Cynthia Baur, al
• Report of the Victorian 2014 Consultation on Health Literacy. 2014. Sophie Hill