"Ask Me 3" is OK, but there are other resources that are just as good, if not better.

I'm partial to AHRQ's "Questions are the Answer" http://www.ahrq.gov/questionsaretheanswer/

This is a good resource for those who want to learn how to communicate with the health care system, not just your doctor. I think the "build your own list of questions" is a great online tool for those who have Internet access and are comfortable using computers. Otherwise it can be downloaded and printed. I often use bits and pieces of the AHRQ information in my patient education newsletters. While the questions themselves are simple, some of the other web resources (including the glossary) is written at a higher reading level. But the video is fun!

Another good resource is one that was mentioned earlier this week from the Literacy Partners of Manitoba. Their "Patient's Prompt Card" (http://www.plainlanguage.mb.literacy.ca/resource/Prompt%20card.pdf) has a section on questions, and it's very similar to Ask Me 3:

1. What is my main problem?
2. What do I need to do?
3. Why is it important for me to do this?
4. Will I get better? How long will it take?

What I like about this resource is that it goes another step:

If you still don’t understand…
You might:
• say: “This is new to me. Will you please explain that to me again?”
• ask: “What does that mean?” “ I don’t understand that word.”
• ask for a picture of the medical problem.
• ask him/her to write things down.
• bring someone to the next visit.


Doug Seubert
Guideline Editor
Quality Improvement & Care Management
Marshfield Clinic
www.marshfieldclinic.org
1000 N Oak Avenue
Marshfield, WI 54449
(715) 387-5096 (1-800-782-8581 ext. 75096)
seubert.douglas at marshfieldclinic.org

------Original Message------
From:	"Anne Murr" <anne.murr at DRAKE.EDU>
Date:	Fri Apr 25, 2008 -- 09:08:11 AM
To:	healthliteracy at nifl.gov
Subject:	[HealthLiteracy 1956] Re: Health Literacy Interventions

The New Readers of Iowa have learned to use the Ask Me 3 questions, i.e.,
What is my main problem?
What do I need to do?
Why is it important for me to do this?

They have also practiced Teach Back with Iowa Health System professionals.

My student's husband was recently hospitalized in a diabetic coma. 
They experienced information overload before he was released.  She 
commented to me, "I wish I'd done Teach Back with them.  We don't 
remember what they told us to do."

Anne

Anne Murr, M.S., Coordinator
Drake University Adult Literacy Center
School of Education
3206 University Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50311
anne.murr at drake.edu
   Tel    515-271-3982
   Fax   515-271-4544
The MISSION OF THE ADULT LITERACY CENTER IS TO IMPROVE LITERACY,
   resulting in enhanced self-esteem, daily living, and lifelong learning.


>Hello all,

>

>In reading the literature on literacy and health, I have noticed 

>that interventions seem to be mostly provider-focused.  Meaning, 

>there is a lot of research on strategies for reaching clients with 

>low literacy skills and communicating differently with these people. 

> Does anyone know of interventions aimed at improving health 

>literacy skills among patients themselves?  Please let me know 

>(back-channel at mskewes at ria.buffalo.edu) if you run across or know 

>of any interventions designed to improve health literacy in clients, 

>instead of just improving the way health professionals communicate 

>with patients/clients who have inadequate health literacy skills 

>(not to say that's not important too!).

>

>Thanks,

>Monica

>

>Monica C. Skewes, Ph.D.

>Postdoctoral Associate

>Research Institute on Addictions

>University at Buffalo

>The State University of New York

>1021 Main Street

>Buffalo, New York 14203

>716-887-2242 (phone)

>716-887-2510 (fax)


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