Increased Use of Health Literacy Strategies for Communication by Physicians

• Published in: Health behavior and policy review Vol. 1; no. 6; pp. 460 - 471
• Main Authors: Connelly, Rosina A., Tran, Xuan G., Xu, Linzhi, Giardino, Angelo P., Turner, Teri L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd 15.11.2014
• Subjects: Cme; Communication Skills; Health Literacy; Medical Education
• ISSN: 2326-4403; 2326-4403
• DOI: 10.14485/HBPR.1.6.4

Objective: About 8 out of 10 parents lack proficient health literacy skills, thereby putting their children at risk for health risks. Physicians do not often use communication strategies that bridge this health literacy gap. This paper describes the effects of a health literacy curriculum on community physicians' knowledge and self-reported use of health literacy communication strategies in pediatric outpatient settings. Methods: We developed a 3-hour active-learning Continuing Medical Education (CME) program using evidence-based teaching strategies for practice change, principles of adult learning theory, and Kolb's model of experiential learning. A 16-item questionnaire assessed health literacy knowledge and self-reported use of 6 communication strategies at 4 points in time: immediately before and after, one and 3 months following the CME program. Results: Of physicians completing pre- and post-intervention questionnaires, the average change in use of communication techniques from baseline was 22.6% (11.54%-36.89%). A sub-analysis of 28 individuals completing all 4 study questionnaires revealed most (58%-100%) used communication techniques "most of the time" or "always" at 3 months post-intervention. 'Limit Information and Repeat' was the strategy with significantly higher reported use 1 and 3 months after CME. Health literacy knowledge did not change significantly over time. Conclusion: Our brief, skills-based CME program using evidence-based educational principles and health literacy communication strategies increased community physicians' self-reported use of at least 3 health literacy communication skills.