Importance of Patient Education and Health Literacy for Healthcare

Patient education is a relatively new thing within the field of health care. In the past, it consisted mainly of the transfer of knowledge and mostly biomedically based advice. Research has shown this to not be effective and sometimes counterproductive. As health care has moved away from applying a traditional paternalistic approach of 'doctor knows best' to a patient-centered care approach, patient education must be tailored to meet persons' individual needs.

There is a fine difference between health education and health literacy but it can make all the difference in the health of your patients and their ability to comply with treatment. One teaches patients about their health and ways to improve it while the other is the degree to which a patient can make appropriate health decisions. It's all part of the continuum of health education that helps patients engage in their health. Both are essential to improving outcomes.

Reasons why Patient Education and Health Literacy are Important?

How does Technology help to Enhance Health Literacy?

Summary

Physicians must promote patient education and engagement through improvement in patients' health literacy. Health literacy is defined as the capacity to seek, understand, and act on health information. The presumption has been that low health literacy means that physician communication is poorly understood, leading to incomplete self-health management and responsibility and incomplete health care utilization. It is the responsibility of physicians to proactively enable patients to have more accessible interactions and situations that promote health and well-being. Health literacy is the primary responsibility of physicians, given that it is physicians who determine the parameters of the health interaction, including physical setting, available time, communication style, content, modes of information provided, and concepts of sound health care decision crafting and acquiescence.