Health literacy question

[Nueticles]

Hello, 

      I was wondering if anyone could take the time and share with me an experience where they encountered a client/patient that had a low health literacy and or cultural difference that needed to be addressed.  What was the topic they didn’t understand or what was the cultural difference you worked through.  I am amazed that I never really took a second to even think about this topic until taking a health literacy course.  I heard examples of people signing consent forms and waking up missing a part.  I also heard one about overdosing pills because they didn’t understand the label (as needed). 

Thanks again for reading.  Cannot wait to hear your stories. 
 

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

The way you are wording this sounds like this is an assignment for school.

Please clarify if this is the case.  But anyways....

I do think that now we are so much more aware of health literacy.  In a Google search or even in reading the literature there are countless studies of how health literacy is super important and recognizing that it is not just Non-English speaking rather it can even be limited English proficient and even those unable to read and write.

I am thankful that we now have access to videos, pamphlets written in plain English, and easily accessible interpreters and devices for interpreters , and hands-on practice through the use of mannequins, etc. Even more important is the return demonstration ofthe newly aquired knowledge.

In the past 20 years of experience in health care and health education we have made strides to really improve how we educate everyone

[RNperdiem, RN]

You don't see many totally illiterate people anymore, but early in my nursing career about 25 years ago, there were still some older people who were.

The elderly lady was admitted to our unit, and we phoned up the elderly relative who looked after her for an admission assessment. (The patient had severe dementia) When it came time for the medications she was taking, he couldn't read the prescription bottles, so he read the letters out loud that were on the prescription bottles. He did know the alphabet. 

[Nueticles]

 

11 hours ago, RNNPICU said:

The way you are wording this sounds like this is an assignment for school.

Please clarify if this is the case.  But anyways....

I do think that now we are so much more aware of health literacy.  In a Google search or even in reading the literature there are countless studies of how health literacy is super important and recognizing that it is not just Non-English speaking rather it can even be limited English proficient and even those unable to read and write.

I am thankful that we now have access to videos, pamphlets written in plain English, and easily accessible interpreters and devices for interpreters , and hands-on practice through the use of mannequins, etc. Even more important is the return demonstration ofthe newly aquired knowledge.

In the past 20 years of experience in health care and health education we have made strides to really improve how we educate everyone

 

No assignment here.  Honestly, just curious about other experiences.  I’ve read quite a few examples and watched a few videos and was blown away at what I learned.  No trying to get an advantage here other than learn from others experience! 
 

thanks for sharing! 

[LeChien, BSN, RN]

I had a patient who had a wound on his lower leg, and he thought he was "cleaning" it by using dish soap and sometimes...BLEACH. Major health literacy issue there!

[amoLucia]

So many student years ago, my L&D pt was so sure she was carrying a 'boy' because of the way the baby was laying in her womb. She was so adamantly confident it was a boy. Unless things have changed, intrauterine fetal position did NOT predetermine baby's sex.

She was so deep in her belief that she would birth a boy. That was her desire as her military husband was also VERY desirous of a boy.

She was a foreign bride and it was a first pregnancy. As a student, I went to the delivery; it was heartbreaking to see her so crushed that the baby was a beautiful healthy girl. She was disconsolate esp since her husband was 'less than enthusiastic with the baby girl.

I know she had been counseled, but I guess that national/cultural beliefs out-weighed current accepted medical practice.

[amoLucia]

LeChien - using bleach for concocting a homemade Dakin's solution was very common in the old days of Home Health. Of course, it was diluted with water, but just goes to show that HH was very inventive when commercial supplies were unavailable for home use or just too expensive. I hope your pt was using a mixed solution. Else I can see an education issue there.

Also the use of Dawn dish detergent is currently used to degrease pet/critter fur. So there might be some explainable rationale.

But you noted the wound care as wonky so I'll believe you. :))

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

On 9/15/2021 at 11:43 PM, Nueticles said:

 

 

No assignment here.  Honestly, just curious about other experiences.  I’ve read quite a few examples and watched a few videos and was blown away at what I learned.  No trying to get an advantage here other than learn from others experience! 
 

thanks for sharing! 

I get it, sometimes after hearing a presentation, or having an experience does inspire us.  If it was an assignment I just wanted more context.  

Health literacy is becoming such a huge thing now that we all as health care providers need to really think of how we can best meet the needs of our patients.  I do think that simulation and hands on really are important.  Reading something, watching a video are great means to impart knowledge, but can the patient do it at the end... that is the key

[CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN]

On 9/15/2021 at 12:55 PM, RNperdiem said:

You don't see many totally illiterate people anymore, but early in my nursing career about 25 years ago, there were still some older people who were.

The elderly lady was admitted to our unit, and we phoned up the elderly relative who looked after her for an admission assessment. (The patient had severe dementia) When it came time for the medications she was taking, he couldn't read the prescription bottles, so he read the letters out loud that were on the prescription bottles. He did know the alphabet. 

We have some immigrants from Central America who don’t read at all. I had a patient on the phone, using a receptionist to translate into Spanish, trying to figure out if he was taking his meds correctly. He was illiterate and the label was also printed in English. I said “Can he spell out the letters on the bottle?”  “M…O…R…N…I…” I interrupted and said “That says ‘morning’.  Ask him to pick another word to spell out!”  Haha. 

[prayingmantis, ADN, BSN]

Learned of this one in nursing school and have never forgot it:

 

Pt came to ER for sprained ankle. Was discharged with instructions to "ice her foot." Pt actually soaked her foot in ice water for an extended length of time. Pt ended up losing her foot.

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

I had a patient who was taking the lady partsl cream prescribed orally. We only realized because she called the clinic to complain that it tasted bad. Poor thing! An instructor in nursing school told us she had a pt who learned how to inject insulin into an orange, then went home and kept injecting the orange instead of himself LOL a lesson on giving very clear instructions!

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

P.S. I never judge because I've done a lot of silly things! Just recently I had to start taking iron, and I bought one that said 47mg but didn't realize elemental iron is different than ferrous sulfate. I needed to take 325mg so I took 7 pills! At the time I was off my psych meds and kinda out of it, and very anemic, maybe that clouded my judgement.

Needless to say my stomach did not feel great! I figured out how to convert elemental iron to ferrous sulfate. Basically I did a med error to myself LOL oh well better than to a patient! I did think it was strange to have to take 8 pills...