Knowledge and Perceptions of Health Literacy Among Nursing Professionals

Abstract

Low health literacy affects nearly half of the U.S. population. Health care professionals may not recognize low health literacy in their patients nor understand its impact on health outcomes. The purpose of this pilot study was to describe nurses' knowledge and perceptions of low health literacy on patients, their practice, and the health system. This cross-sectional, descriptive study used a web-based survey to assess the knowledge and perceptions of health literacy among nursing professionals. Registered nurses licensed by the State of California were randomly selected and invited to participate in the study. Data analysis included descriptive statistics to describe nursing professionals' general knowledge and perceptions. Qualitative textual analysis was done on participant responses to a survey question that asks participants to define health literacy using their own words. Results of this study revealed that nursing professionals' knowledge of health literacy and their understanding on the role health literacy plays on patient health outcomes is limited. Health literacy was also reported to be a low priority among providers and organizations. Nursing plays an important role in direct patient care and in the delivery of health services. Educating nurses on health literacy and improving patient communication and understanding can improve health outcomes.

Health Literacy amongst Health Professional University Students: A Study Using the Health Literacy Questionnaire

“…The lower health literacy skills of the nursing students in the current study concurs in part with evidence in the literature [33,41] and highlights that nursing professionals may have limited knowledge to support patients with low health literacy. This is clearly a problem which needs to be addressed, especially given that many nursing programs have not included health literacy in their curriculum [25].…”

Preoperative Education

“…Images should facilitate learning [ 26 ]. Pictures should illustrate and reinforce the text, be simple and realistic, include captions, and be culturally appropriate.…”

Clinical Assessment of Health Literacy

“…Practitioners tend to overestimate their patients' health literacy skills 48 , 49 and underestimate the impact of low health literacy on their patients' ability to understand health information or to obtain appropriate health care services. 50 In a study of patients with diabetes that included their physicians, those physicians who were informed of their patient's health literacy status tended to modify their interactions to accommodate the patients' needs. However, those same physicians were less satisfi ed with the patient encounter and felt that they were less effective with their patient.…”