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[HealthLiteracy 297] Re: Communications
David Rosen
djrosen at comcast.netSat Jul 22 17:39:39 EDT 2006
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Colleagues,
Here's an article by a doctor at the Boston Medical Center on health
literacy:
http://www2.townonline.com/woburn/opinion/view.bg?articleid=540834
Although his advice seems sensible to me, Doctor Oates only very
briefly acknowledges that some patients may not be able to read or
write, and moves on to patient strategies to better understand
doctors . Is "health literacy" like "computer literacy," and
"financial literacy" only a metaphor for "the need to learn about
health"? Is literacy (the ability to read and write) not really of
concern to doctors, even in a healthcare context. If so, the
Institute of Medicine, and the AMA Foundation messages may need to re-
focus on the _literacy_ issues in "health literacy" such why patients
can't bring a list of questions, read prescriptions, communicate by e-
mail, follow the written directions before certain kinds of
appointments, read pamphlets, and read about privacy and other
patient care policies, and what can be done about that.
What do others think?
David J. Rosen
djrosen at comcast.net
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