Healthcare Workers Responsible for Patients' Health Literacy

F**k ACOG and Regina Benjamin, the fat Health Illiterate-in-Chief.

Responsibility for recognizing and addressing the problem of limited health literacy lies with all healthcare professionals, according to a Committee Opinion of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Two related Committee Opinions in the same issue discuss the impact of communications skills and strategies and cultural sensitivity issues on patient-physician communication.

"The problem of health illiteracy is widespread and goes beyond those who can’t read or those who don't speak English," said Patrice M. Weiss, MD, chair of the ACOG Committee on Patient Safety and Quality Improvement, in a news release. "Physicians, nurses, social workers — everyone in the health care field — must make sure that our patients fully understand their health condition and their treatment, as well as the importance of taking their medications exactly as directed. We simply can't assume that a patient understands because she nods her head or because we think she seems educated."

The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies defines health literacy as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Health literacy is limited in nearly half of all people in the United States, resulting in a higher risk for hospitalization, more barriers to getting necessary healthcare, and poor comprehension of medical advice causing morbidity and even mortality.

People are responsible for their own health literacy.

And if a patient "nods her head" in understanding, well, don't nod if you do not understand.

It is reasonable to have a patient "restate the health information given in their own words."

However, it is not reasonable to suggest that the clinician is responsible for health literacy and to suggest that this is coupled to patient compliance.

It just ain't so.