The Importance and the Need for Assessing Health Literacy in Patients

Moreover, it is always vital to remember that a patient’s poor communication abilities might not signify a lack of intellect but the absence of health literacy aptitudes. In most cases, patients with low health abilities are capable of developing the skills but have not been presented with the opportunity. Generally, health literacy assessment improves person-centred care provision, the safety of patients, and health outcomes. The abilities necessitated in managing people’s health in the best probable approach also tend to embody the significance of health literacy (Jovanić et al., 2018). Sufficient health literacy is necessitated to fulfil an active role in healthcare and health.

Health literacy is implemented in the advanced practice nurse role during the diagnosis, treatment, and management of an ailment. Patients with high literacy assessments tend to have personal preferences in medical decision-making. Typically, successful evidence-based medicine practice necessitates the use of up-to-date best evidence for personal patient care. Advanced practice nurses tend to engage the patient in the treatment process with great consideration of their decisions and likings. In most cases, patient decision-making and health outcomes are highly linked to health literacy.

 References

Jovanić, M., Zdravković, M., Stanisavljević, D., & Jović Vraneš, A. (2018). Exploring the importance of health literacy for the quality of life in patients with heart failure. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(8), 1761.

Visscher, B. B., Steunenberg, B., Heijmans, M., Hofstede, J. M., Devillé, W., van der Heide, I., & Rademakers, J. (2018). Evidence on the effectiveness of health literacy interventions in the EU: a systematic review. BMC Public Health, 18(1), 1-12.