The Shift from Individual to Organizational Health Literacy: Implications for Kidney Healthcare Leaders and Clinicians

Abstract

As a social determinant of health, health literacy has a vital role in the management of chronic disease management, including chronic kidney disease (CKD). To be able to manage their condition, patients with CKD need to be able to assess, comprehend, appraise, and utilize complex health-related information. Those patients are much more likely to understand and use health information appropriately, if it addresses their personal needs related to language, culture, educational background and socioeconomic status. One aspect of health literacy, organizational health literacy (OHL), relates to the degree with which health organizations justifiably empower patients to locate, understand and utilize health information and facilities to inform their decision-making and health behaviours. With increasing evidence-based about OHL as a way to improve healthcare, it is a new concept for kidney clinicians. As producers of health-related information, the multidisciplinary kidney healthcare team have a responsibility to meet the needs of those in their care, as such, priority should be given to implementation of OHL initiatives. Through enhancing the clarity of information, OHL initiatives may provide a game plan for person-centred care for those with CKD.

Empowering inclusivity: improving readability of living kidney donation information with ChatGPT

“…Policies aimed at closing the literacy gaps in healthcare must take into account the diversity of patients' educational backgrounds ( 29 , 34 – 36 ). A comprehensive strategy should include the simplification of medical texts, the use of plain language in patient education materials, and the training of healthcare providers to communicate effectively with patients who may have limited health literacy ( 35 , 36 ).…”

“…Furthermore, policy initiatives must also foster the development and deployment of advanced technologies, such as AI-driven tools like ChatGPT, which can tailor complex medical content to the comprehension skills of the general population. By embedding these strategies into healthcare policy ( 34 ), institutions can better ensure that all individuals, regardless of literacy level, have the information they need to make informed decisions about living kidney donation.…”