Health Literacy Paper

Great post Grace You mentioned an important point that has influences the health literacy of the patient. Improving literacy by helping to filter what the patients can use as a source of information is the goal of the health care professional. Television has played a huge part in the literacy of the patients and will continue to influence the patients’’ knowledge on health care. Some patients watch TV for information and usually come to the doctor’s office requesting that same medication that was advertised. Educating patient with the right web site to search for information before concluding to have a drug will be very helpful. Though the TV serves as a form of education to the patient, they need to discuss with their doctors on any steps or procedures before implementing to themselves. Health literacy is a means to empower patients to be independent and self-reliance on the information of their health making them more conscious about their health which is a goal for healthy people 2010 (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2015). However, telehealth offers …show more content…
Being literate is the basis of becoming health literate. When a patient can read and write it is easy for them to follow simple health instructions. I think the goal is not to make a patient literate about all health problems but, the patient should be able to obtain information and make necessary health decision that may serve their lives (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) (n.d.a). Patients that are health literate are more likely to make better health choices than someone who does not understand their health or what is medically going on with them (health literacy, 2011). Though health professionals have the responsibility to educate patient to become health literate, we have to make sure patients are willing to take that next step to know about their health and how they can help themselves (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2015). All these will help the patient to become health