Why does health literacy matter?
People have different levels of health literacy, and difficulties understanding health information can affect their ability to access services, make decisions and manage their health. The way we communicate can make a real difference.
Our Health Literacy presentation is a 45-minute session designed to help CWPT staff understand health literacy and consider how the way we communicate can affect a person’s ability to understand and act on health information.
The presentation is practical and relevant to staff working in both clinical and non-clinical roles.
What will the presentation cover?
The session will introduce the concept of health literacy and explore practical approaches that can help us communicate more clearly and effectively.
Communication approaches
You will be introduced to two simple techniques that can be used when communicating information with patients and service users:
Teach Back – a communication technique used to check that information has been understood by asking the person to explain the information back in their own words.
Chunk and Check – breaking information or instructions into smaller, manageable sections and checking understanding as you go.
These techniques can be used individually or together and can help reduce misunderstandings and support people to take an active role in their care.
Put yourself in the patient’s or client’s shoes
The presentation also considers how we can adapt our communication to the individual, including:
- Avoiding assumptions.
- Minimising the use of acronyms and jargon.
- Using clear language and short sentences.
- Checking that information has been understood.
- Considering the needs of the person we are communicating with.
What will I take away from the session?
The presentation will help you to:
- Understand what health literacy means and why it matters.
- Recognise some of the barriers people may face when accessing and understanding health information.
- Use practical communication techniques such as Teach Back and Chunk and Check.
- Think about how your own communication can be made clearer and more accessible.
- Identify useful resources to support health literacy in your day-to-day work.
About the session
Duration: Approximately 45 minutes
Available: Online via Microsoft Teams or in person
Who can attend: CWPT staff and students on placement
Format: Presentation with practical examples and videos
The session can be arranged for individual teams or groups of staff.
BOOK A HEALTH LITERACY PRESENTATION
To arrange a session, please contact Andy Hough, Outreach Librarian by email:
Andrew.Hough@covwarkpt.nhs.uk
Please include your preferred format (Teams or in-person), your proposed date/time and approximately how many people will be attending.
