Health Literacy: Requisite for Advanced Practice

Nurse Practitioner faculty are charged with teaching nurse practitioner students not only to be excellent clinicians, but also effective patient educators.  The development of skills and abilities in providing effective patient education is consistent with current NONPF Population-Focused Nurse Practitioner competencies. Meaningful patient education includes attention to health literacy, the degree to which individuals have the ability to understand and utilize health information to make appropriate health related decisions.

Purpose: The objective of this poster presentation is to increase understanding of health literacy and the significance of integrating health literacy concepts into curriculum. It reports on a study undertaken to explore the perspectives of minimally health literate patients and their caregivers in navigating the healthcare system. 

Data Sources: Because prior research failed to provide a complete view of the complexity and richness inherent in human experience, a qualitative collective case study was employed. Data were collected from twelve participants through a semi-guided audiotaped interview process.

Conclusions: Through review of the data, four essential themes emerged: (1) relationships, (2) communication, (3) empowerment, and (4) time. Additionally, review supported the development of the Model of Understanding.  Within the Model of Understanding, time is essential for relationship development.  A trusting relationship opens a pathway toward partnering and effective patient-centered communication, which encourages customized education.  Through education, understanding and health literacy may be achieved, and the patient may be empowered to accept responsibility for choices impacting health.

Implications for Practice: The new knowledge gained from this study has application to nurse practitioner educators.   Nurse practitioners are in a pivotal role to impact communication and break down barriers to understanding health related information.  Additionally, they have a responsibility to understand health literacy, the incidence in all sectors of society, the relationship to health outcomes, and the importance of sharing this information with others serving in the health care environment. Nurse practitioner educators will be successful in teaching students about the important role that nurse practitioners can play in educating patients about their health when they include content that emphasizes the importance of health literacy.