Empowering Patients: Challenges Associated with Health Literacy and Potential Solutions

5 min readMar 14, 2024

By: Sameera Gurram

When a patient walks into their doctor’s office, oftentimes they are met with unfamiliar sights: machines towering over them and medical jargon words swirling around their ears that might make them feel as if they are stepping into a foreign world. These experiences make it clear that health literacy must be prioritized. As defined by the NIH, health literacy encompasses the “degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others” [1]. Health literacy is not confined to a patient’s ability to read medical labels or to take a prescription. It is actually much more than that; it encompasses the broader capacity to understand and navigate the rather complicated healthcare system.

Delving into the role that health literacy can have in empowering patients, and how to enhance communication between doctors and patients to facilitate health literacy, is important. Additionally, understanding the challenges that patients face in understanding medical information, understanding treatment options, and actively participating in their healthcare decisions can also help improve overall healthcare outcomes. And finally, by examining the role of healthcare professionals, educational institutions, and technology in fostering health literacy, the necessary advances to improve health literacy can be made.

In our rapidly advancing world, the healthcare system has become increasingly complex, making it even more difficult for patients to navigate. In fact, in the United States, nearly 30% of all adults were found to have a limited health literacy. [2] Clearly, this issue is a pervasive one, underscoring the fact that almost 1 in 3 Americans still face challenges in understanding and utilizing health information effectively. Furthermore, a limited health literacy extends beyond just the difficulty of understanding medical jargon. Recent research has consistently revealed that people with lower literacy levels are more likely to be associated with worsened healthcare outcomes [3], as they could have a harder time adhering to treatment schedules, misinterpret crucial preventative measures, and face difficulties in communicating with healthcare providers. These factors only emphasize the need for more targeted interventions to address the root causes of lower healthcare literacy levels.

There are a wide array of challenges that individuals face in navigating the complex healthcare system, understanding medical information, and making informed decisions about their health. Patients who have a low health literacy may have trouble with accessing health insurance. Therefore, programs that implement the use of social workers or navigators to “empower consumers by assisting them in understanding their health insurance options” could potentially have a lasting impact in these populations [4]. These professionals could serve as guides, helping individuals navigate their insurance plans, explaining terms in accessible language, and ensuring that patients can make informed decisions about their coverage. Through empowering patients with the support of social workers or navigators, individuals with low health literacy can gain a clearer understanding of the insurance landscape.

Limited communication between patient and healthcare provider is also a contributor to healthcare literacy; making sure that there is a constant communication line between patient and provider is key. However, research has shown that most of the time, patients are only able to remember half of the information a doctor has told them during their appointment [5]. Furthermore, this is only exacerbated by the fact that healthcare professionals tend to overestimate patients’ health literacy level. One study asking nurses to identify the health literacy levels of patients reported that the nurses assumed that 68% of the patients in the study had an adequate level, while the actual percentage of patients who had an adequate health literacy was 22% [6]. This discrepancy sheds light on the fact that healthcare providers need to be further educated on the varying levels of understanding and knowledge among patients. Being able to recognize these instances is essential for closing communication gaps, enhancing patient understanding, and improving overall health outcomes. Adopting patient-centered communication is key, ensuring that patients receive the information they need in a format that is comprehensible to them specifically. This approach not only promotes health literacy but also strengthens their relationship.

When it comes to health literacy, people tend to only think of verbal communication, generally in a provider-patient context. However, a formidable challenge that exists at the forefront of achieving health literacy is understanding written forms of communication, such as “consent forms, medication adherence instructions, and brochures” [4]. Written communication plays a huge role in healthcare, serving as a tangible source of information that patients can refer to before and after visits. For example, consent forms outline the terms and potential risks of medical procedures, and assist patients in making informed decisions about their care. However, for many individuals, and especially those with lower health literacy levels, understanding these types of forms can be a daunting task that leads to misunderstandings and missed details. Overall, this can contribute to compromised decision-making. Addressing this challenge requires healthcare providers and systems to prioritize accessibility in their written communication strategies. Through adopting plain language, utilizing clear and concise wording, incorporating visual aids, and ensuring that information is accessible to diverse audiences, health literacy can be advanced [4]. By recognizing the necessity for tailoring written materials to accommodate varying health literacy levels, significant steps can be taken to create a more inclusive healthcare environment for communities.

Living in a country full of diversity, it’s crucial to recognize and appreciate the multitude of individuals who come from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Yet, medical systems often fail to acknowledge these diverse backgrounds, resulting in health literacy barriers. Cultural and language barriers significantly contribute to limited health literacy, particularly for those with limited English proficiency like refugees and immigrants, who may face trouble navigating the American healthcare system [4]. Cultural beliefs and practices can majorly impact how individuals perceive and interact with healthcare. When healthcare systems decide to overlook these cultural factors, there is a disconnect that occurs, which can impede communication and understanding between providers and patients. Failing to consider patient’s backgrounds and the lack of cultural sensitivity affects both the quality of care and contributes to feelings of mistrust within diverse communities. Moreover, language barriers only exacerbate these cultural barriers, as patients have a hard time effectively communicating with and understanding their providers. Crucial details about medical histories, symptoms, or treatment plans could be missed in translation, leading to negative health outcomes. Thus, making sure that both written and oral communication are accessible, through providing a variety of language options, is essential for healthcare systems. Additionally, when delivering care to patients, just translating is not enough. It is important that care teams recognize and reflect the beliefs and customs of various cultures. Through embracing cultural diversity and actively working to eliminate language barriers, providers can contribute to a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system, which promotes health literacy for all.

Clearly, there are multifaceted challenges associated with health literacy, which underscore the need for an inclusive, and targeted approach within the healthcare system. Recognizing what some of these challenges are and their significance is imperative in order to implement meaningful solutions. Additionally, implementing initiatives that promote accessible communication (both in verbal and written contexts), as well as promoting culturally sensitive care, can help dismantle barriers and empower patients to make informed decisions about their health.

Sameera is a 2nd year Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology major and current THINQ fellow.

Sources:

Empowering Patients: Challenges Associated with Health Literacy and Potential Solutions

Written by THINQ at UCLA

No responses yet