2023 The Internet has empowered consumers to retrieve instantaneous information about almost any health issue that arises For example

  The Internet has empowered consumers to retrieve instantaneous information about almost any health issue that arises. For example, a Google search for “measles” identified 12.1 million different links in a mere 0.11 seconds. However, today the problem lies not with finding information but with recognizing which information is up-to-date, credible, and valuable. Unfortunately, many health consumers do not have the literacy skills to sift through available information and identify that which is relevant. Nurses can play a valuable role in helping to improve consumer health literacy. In this final week, you explore how nurses can be involved in increasing the health literacy of patients.

                                    Health Information Patient Handout

One of the pivotal goals of consumer health literacy efforts is to design educational materials that attract as well as educate users. In this Assignment, you design a health information document on a topic that is of interest to you.

To prepare:

· Select a health issue of interest to you.

· Identify the audience or population that you seek to educate about this issue.

· Search the Internet to find credible sites containing information about your selected topic.

· Review the two health literacy websites listed in this week’s Learning Resources. Focus on strategies for presenting information.

To complete:

· Design an educational handout on the health issue you selected.

o Include a cover page.

o Include an introduction that provides:

§ An explanation of your issue and why you selected it

§ A description of the audience you are addressing

o In the handout itself:

§ Develop your handout in such a way that it attracts the attention of the intended audience.

§ Include a description of the health issue and additional content that will enhance your message (i.e., key terms and definitions, graphics, illustrations, etc.).

§ Recommend four or five sites that provide clear, valuable, and reliable information on the topic.

                                                                          Learning Resources

Required Readings

McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2015). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.

• Chapter 17, “Supporting      Consumer Information and Education Needs”

This chapter explores health literacy and e-health. The chapter examines a multitude of technology-based approaches to consumer health education.

• Chapter 18, “Using      Informatics to Promote Community/Population Health”

In this chapter, the authors supply an overview of community and population health informatics. The authors explore a variety of informatics tools used to promote community and population health.

• Chapter 16, “Informatics      Tools to Promote Patient Safety and Clinical Outcomes”

The authors of this chapter present strategies for developing a culture of safety using informatics tools. In addition, the chapter analyzes how human factors contribute to errors.

Health literacy: How do your patients rate? (2011). Urology Times, 39(9), 32.

The authors of this article define health literacy and emphasize its poor rates in the United States. Additionally, the authors recommend numerous websites that offer patient education materials.

Huff, C. (2011). Does your patient really understand? H&HN, 85(10), 34.

This article defines hospital literacy and highlights the barriers that prevent it from increasing. It also emphasizes the difficulties created by language and financial costs.

The Harvard School of Public Health. (2010). Health literacy studies. Retrieved from http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy

This website provides information and resources related to health literacy. The site details the field of health literacy and also includes research findings, policy reports and initiatives, and practice strategies and tools.

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (n.d.). Health literacy online. Retrieved June 19, 2012, from http://www.health.gov/healthliteracyonline/

This webpage supplies a guide to writing and designing health websites aimed at increasing health literacy. The guide presents six strategies that should be used when developing health websites.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.a). Quick guide to health literacy. Retrieved June 19, 2012, from http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/quickguide/Quickguide.pdf

This article contains an overview of key health literacy concepts and techniques for improving health literacy. The article also includes examples of health literacy best practices and suggestions for improving health literacy.

Required Media

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Executive Producer). (2012a). Interview with Rachelle Toman, M.D. Ph.D. Rockville, MD: Author. Retrieved from http://www.ahrq.gov/patients-consumers/patient-involvement/ask-your-doctor/videos/clinician06/index.html

In this interview, Dr. Toman discusses the importance of asking patients questions to ensure they have been able to sufficiently communicate their concerns.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Executive Producer). (2012b). The waiting room video. Rockville, MD: Author. Retrieved from http://www.ahrq.gov/patients-consumers/patient-involvement/ask-your-doctor/videos/waitroom/index.html

This video addresses the importance of communication in the patient-health care professional relationship. It highlights the need to ask meaningful questions to the patient to fully understand issues and concerns.